March 21st, 2016 the Government of Ecuador announced the creation of a 40,000 km2 (15,000 sq. mile) marine sanctuary around the two northern-most islands Wolf and Darwin.
Making Wolf and Darwin and some other smaller areas around the central islands of Galapagos no take zones is a major step towards the conservation of the marine species such as the Scalloped Hammer Head Shark in the Pacific.
In addition to the ecological value of the species to the ocean, an estimated USD 178 million are the estimated revenue of tourism activities involving diving with sharks in the Galapagos Islands.
The no take zone is a result of the Pristine Seas Expedition, a major scientific and public relations endeavor organized by the National Geographic Society in 2015, the local government and several scientists.