Galapagos - Bio Security

BIOSECURITY MEASURES

Environmental Risk Assessment [SICGAL]

On arrival in Galapagos, officers from the Galapagos Quarantine and Inspection System (SICGAL) will board your boat to undertake an environment risk assessment of your boat. The officers will look at a number of areas of risk and will seek evidence to satisfy themselves that your yacht presents only acceptable risk to the National Park of Galapagos. If a yacht fails to meet their requirements (a reasonable level of risk), they must leave the Galapagos Marine Reserve. It can take up to 3 days to know if you have passed or not. The cost of this is borne by the visitor and the fee is $50 per person on board.

The points below give some guidance on how best to prepare and what to expect:

● Hulls: The hull must be totally free from organisms which might pose a threat [barnacles, algie and marine growth] BEFORE arriving in Galapagos. It is advisable to clean your hull in Panama (or last port of departure before Galapagos) using recommended divers, who will issue a certificate. To be extra sure, weather permitting, jump in and give the boat a final clean (including the bow thruster if you have one) 50 miles offshore. Filming the cleaning and taking pictures will also provide proof that your boat is not a problem. The captain will be interviewed on arrival and there will be a hull inspection of the boat by a diver. The hull inspection by SICGAL could simply be a look from the surface, a snorkel of your hull or an actual dive with tanks – it seems to be luck of the draw. A certificate showing when the last coating of anti-fouling was applied may also be requested. If you fail the hull inspection, you may be required to exit the marine reserve (60NM offshore) at your own expense, carry out remedial cleaning work on your hull and re-enter. You will then be re-inspected at a charge of US$150.

● Garbage: All waste on board must be separated into organic, non-organic (tins, cans, bottles etc.) and non-recyclable and clearly labeled in different colour bags. A notice must be posted on deck stating "Do not throw garbage overboard". In order to prepare your waste properly en-route to the Islands, read this article by the WWF on how to reduce your human footprint. In Puerto Ayora there is a garbage barge that collects waste from boats for a $3 charge - you will likely be told by the garbage man to put all the garbage into one bag - so just one bag charge. It will then get sorted onshore. Despite this, waste must continued to be separated. In Isabella take your garbage ashore - the garbage bin is 100m up the dock. On Floreana there are no garbage facilities.

● Engine Maintenance: Demonstrate what is done with old engine oil, and how oil spills are managed onboard. Confirm when the engine was last serviced and whether you intend to work on it during your stay. The engine may be inspected for oil leaks. Special absorbent pads for soaking up oil should be carried. There is an engine oil recycling centre in Galapagos.

● Black Water: You will have to declare in advance that you have a holding tank and its capacity, or in case you don’t, that you are not going to discharge overboard during your stay in Galapagos. You must have a notice posted near the engine room stating; "Do not discharge black waters into the sea". All islands have toilets and showers for cruisers on the docks.

● Detergents: Use only biological washing up liquid and detergents, which must be on display for the inspection.

● Foodstuffs: The fresh food on board may be inspected. What food you can keep will depend very much on the inspector. It helps to show you have taken steps to avoid infestation (by zip-lock bagging dry goods etc.). Oranges, eggs, chilies, berries and passion fruits are not allowed. In some cases nor are bananas. No fresh meat, although some frozen is permitted. No fresh cheese. Find out what food is permitted at https://bioseguridadgalapagos.gob.ec/lista-de-productos/

Last updated:  January 2024