Galapagos Spill

A crippled tanker ship is threatening the Galapagos Islands - and not just their famed and fragile wildlife. The archipelago's inhabitants, who depend on the sea for their livelihood, say the tanker has destroyed their fishing and spoiled the waters that are the azure backdrop of their lives. The leaking began Friday near the islands, a natural treasure 600 miles off Ecuador's west coast. Some 170,000 gallons of diesel fuel had poured from the disabled ship, which lies 550 yards off San Cristobal Island. Ecuador, which controls the territory, declared a state of emergency late Monday to speed funding for the cleanup. As of late Monday, currents had spread intermittent slicks over 488 square miles - an area bigger than Los Angeles. Formed roughly 4 to 5 million years ago by underwater volcanoes, the islands are mostly arid and rocky, dotted more by cactuses than lush vegetation. Giant land tortoises, which can reach 550 pounds and for which the Galapagos are named, were not in danger because they live in the higher elevations of the islands. Some 60,000 gallons were recovered from the damaged tanker Jessica over the weekend, Ecuadorean Environment Minister Rodolfo Rendon told The Associated Press.