With Rolex?s support, Mission Blue conducted a two-week research expedition across the Galápagos Islands to gather crucial data for conservancy efforts
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Argo, the research vessel for 2022?s Mission Blue Galápagos expedition, moored off of Wolf Island

The Galápagos Islands and their waters are among the most biodiverse regions in the world. The environment is also home to an unusually large number of endemic species due to its remote location in the Pacific Ocean, some 900 km from continental Ecuador?s west coast. This unique set of qualities has made the Galápagos an especially important focus of ocean conservation efforts.
Indeed, much has been accomplished. The Ecuadorian government, for instance, established the Galápagos Marine Reserve to protect the islands? waters in 1998, then expanded the reserve?s coverage by 50 per cent in 2021 to its present size of 133,000 km2. Ocean conservation non-profit Mission Blue, founded by the famed marine biologist and Rolex Testimonee Sylvia Earle, also designated the Galápagos? waters as one of its first ?Hope Spots? in 2010.

Dr. Sylvia Earle, Rolex Testimonee and founder of Mission Blue

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Far from being a one and done process, however, ocean conservation is an ongoing endeavour. To that end, Earle led a multi-institutional ...