Ariana Freire grew up on the Galapagos Islands. Now, 23 years old, she shares this biodiverse place with tourists in her work as a naturalist guide. When heading out with tourists, she frequently encounters garbage on the beaches and she notices that the number of fishermen decreases as tourism increases in the archipelago. These changes do not discourage but inspire Ariana; her passion for nature makes that she initiates beach clean-ups with tourists and studies environmental administration to contribute to healthier oceans.
What is your earliest memory of the ocean?
During one of my school holidays, I went on a sailing and kayaking camp on Floreana, one of the four inhabited islands of the archipelago. I remember being in the kayak surrounded by the clear blue water while I and the other kids kayaked all the way from Floreana’s main village to Post Office Beach, which is quite a long distance. It is a beautiful memory and even though it is actually not my very first memory of the oceans – I was sixteen years old – it was the first time I truly connected with the ocean around me.
After this experience, my interest in the oceans grew and I wanted to get to know the ocean from another perspective, so I started a diving course. Now, I’m thinking about finishing all diving courses to reach the highest level and become a divemaster and one day maybe even a diving guide in the Galapagos Marine Reserve, the Marine Protected Area (MPA) around the archipelago.
“I’m surrounded by the ocean. It is where I learned how to swim, where my family is, where I enjoy myself and where my food comes from.”
What does the ocean mean to you today?
I’m surrounded by the ocean. It is where I learned how to swim, where my family is, where I enjoy myself and where my food comes from. The beautiful island I live on was formed in the ocean that surrounds us. I’m fascinated by the ocean although it is still an unknown world to all; lots of marine species are likely not discovered yet.
Of course, the ocean also plays a large role in my work as a naturalist guide. Besides for hikes on the islands, I take tourists snorkeling in different parts of the archipelago, which gives them the opportunity to spot unique marine species, like the Galapagos penguin, marine iguanas and the Galapagos sea lion. Below the ocean surface they can spot hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, sea turtles, rays and other marine wildlife. Some tours include the experience of fishing the same traditional way my father and grandfather did, with sugarcane. My work makes me feel connected to the ocean and the rest of my environment – the oceans keep us alive and if we keep contaminating them we’ll not survive.
“The oceans keep us alive and if we keep contaminating them we'll not survive.”
You have been living surrounded by ocean almost all your life. What changes have you witnessed in the ocean?
On the island where I live, San Cristobal, it was possible to bathe in a natural well that filled with sea water during high tide. Now, because of contamination, it’s impossible to go in there. Also, fishing used to be the main livelihood of the island people, but because of the increase of tourists and the regulations of the Galapagos Marine Reserve there are much less fishermen now. And then there is the plastic… Maybe I didn’t realise it when I was younger, but now I see more plastic and other garbage from other parts of the world on the beaches.
How do these changes affect you?
When I was on Isabela, the largest island of the archipelago, I noticed there were more plastics bags and other garbage because of the parties on the beach. I realised that the bags and small pieces of plastic could easily end up being eaten by a sea turtles. Realising the damage we humans are causing makes me feel sad, but it also stimulates me to do something about it. Therefore, I always try to spend about ten minutes picking up garbage on the beaches we visit with tourists. Besides the small contribution to less garbage in the ocean, it also increases the awareness – every time more tourists join this initiative.
And what else do you do to contribute to shifting this change in a positive way?
Besides the beach clean-ups with tourists, I emphasize the importance of reusable water bottles and bags to decrease the use of single-use plastics when instructing them on the rules of the Galapagos National Park. Also, I try to make a difference by sharing photos of the ocean and the Galapagos’ species on Instagram, because I want to increase awareness among young people about the problems the oceans encounter. Many of them don’t know much about the consequences of their actions for the environment and will not change their behaviour until they gain more knowledge about nature. And if they don’t change, nature will keep disappearing rapidly.
To be able to contribute more, I keep developing myself. While studying tourism I was already very interested in the courses related to the environment, and after graduating I continued in university to learn more about environmental themes with the objective to develop projects supporting the environment. As a next step, I’m thinking about obtaining my master’s degree in protected areas management.
“A network of MPAs forms a powerful front and creates a compromise to take care of our resources.”
That’s great. How do you think Marine Protected Areas can contribute to healthier oceans?
A network of MPAs can form a powerful front and creates a compromise to take care of our resources. I had the opportunity to discuss these topics with people from Ecuador’s mainland coast and they told me about the impressive biodiversity in certain areas. There is a small number of marine bird species that migrates between the mainland coast and the Galapagos Islands, like the blue-footed booby and the waved albatross. To protect species like these, I think it would be good to establish a network of well-managed MPAs connecting areas that are important for biodiversity. Besides protecting species, MPAs can create opportunities to organise large-scale projects, like beach clean-ups, in which local people and tourists can participate. I think people feel more committed when an area is protected.
In 2030, what does the ocean look like according to you?
I have a dream of a world without plastics. We can go back to the time with only reusable products like glass bottles, cloth diapers and reusable bags. It will be difficult to realise a big change like this, since we depend a lot on plastics these days. But it is not impossible.
Thanks for sharing your story Ariana, you’re an Ocean Witness now. What do you want to say to other Ocean Witnesses?
If you have some kind of power in your community – which may be an organisation, neighbourhood or any type of community – use it to make a difference. If you’re a professor, teach. If you’re a community leader, create awareness. The most important thing is to never give up.
“If you have some kind of power in your community – which may be an organisation, neighbourhood or any type of community – use it to make a difference.”
And if you would give one tip to the reader at home about how they can contribute to a healthier ocean in the future, what would it be?
We have to use less plastics. For example, take your own bottle with you and fill it with drinking water wherever you can. Take your reusable bag to the shop. And when you see plastics on the streets or in nature, just pick it up. If you have the opportunity to transmit your good vibes and to teach how to take better care of our planet, do it!
Ariana is 23 years old and a certified naturalist guide on the Galapagos Islands. She has been living on the islands since she was two years old and grew up on the archipelago that is famous for its unique species and Charles Darwin’s evolution theory. Currently, Ariana is living on San Cristobal Island, from where she guides tourists. Because she wants to continue developing her knowledge about environmental issues, she is studying environmental administration and wants to obtain a master’s degree in protected areas management.
Her passion for the ocean makes that she can be found in the water frequently, whether it is snorkeling with tourists or diving for fun. Improving the health of the oceans is part of her daily life through cleaning up beaches and creating awareness.
Ariana Freire (23) grew up on the Galapagos Islands and shares this biodiverse place with tourists in her work as a naturalist guide. Her passion for nature makes that she initiates beach clean-ups with tourists and studies environmental administration to contribute to healthier oceans.