World Wildlife Fund Combats Illegal Fishing in the Galapagos

 Small Ship Expedition Cruise Company Ecoventura Raises $12,000 to Help the World Wildlife Fund Combat Illegal Fishing in the Galapagos

Give Back to the Galapagos Promotion Ends in Success

New Discount Incentives Offered on Select Cruise Dates

MIAMI, July 28, 2010 ˆ The visionary, small-ship travel company Ecoventura (http://www.ecoventura.com/) announced that a recent promotion has raised $12,000 to help fund, among other things, a satellite vessel monitoring system to combat illegal commercial fishing operating clandestinely in protected Galapagos waters.

The promotion which ended this week offered guests a 5 percent discount plus the satisfaction of knowing that another 5 percent from the cruise company‚s pocket went to the Galapagos Marine Biodiversity Fund administered by the World Wildlife Fund.

„Our clients always want to know how they can help our efforts to create a positive level of sustainability for this fragile eco-system called the Galapagos,‰ said Santiago Dunn, president and owner of Ecoventura. „This was a way they for them to benefit twice: once by receiving a rate reduction and once by giving something back to the islands.‰

Ecoventura helped establish the Galapagos Marine Biodiversity Fund (GMBF) in 2006 in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund to support environmental education and marine conservation by strengthening the local communities‚ ability to manage natural resources. Dunn‚s company has pledged a donation of $65,000 annually in support of the fund.

Since GMBF‚s inception $160,950 in contributions have gone directly to the various projects now in operation including scholarships for local children to study at the University level, development of micro-enterprises to create alternate sources of income and control of illegal fishing activities through a permanent floating station at Darwin Island and the acquisition of a satellite vessel monitoring system.

In place of the Give Back promotion, Ecoventura is now offering straight 10% to 15% discounts on select cruise departures from July 25 through Dec 12, 2010. For Last Minute Summer bookings aboard the Eric, Flamingo and Letty the company is offering a 10% Discount off rack rates. Eight-day cruise departures include: Aug 1, 15, 22, 29, Sep 5, 12, 19, and 26.

On a Special Fall Promotion Ecoventura offers 15% off on eight-day cruise departures starting Oct 17, 24, 31, Nov 7, 14, 21, 28, December 5 and 12. An Early Bird Booking Incentive for cruises in 2011 offers all new bookings made 120 days or more prior to departure a 5% discount. This applies to the following departures: Jan 9, 16, 23, 30, Feb 6, 13, 20, 27, Mar 6, Aug 28, Sep 4, 11, 18, 25, Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Nov 6, 13, 27, Dec 4 and 11, 2011.

About Ecoventura: Ecoventura is a family-owned company based in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with sales offices in Quito and Miami. In operation since 1990, the cruise company transports 4,000+ passengers annually aboard a fleet of three expedition vessels; identical, superior first-class 20-passenger motor yachts with 10 double cabins. The company also operates the M/V Galapagos Sky, a 16-passenger dedicated dive live-aboard offering 7-night weekly itineraries visiting the northern islands of Wolf and Darwin. All of its vessels have been purposefully retrofitted to meet or exceed the highest possible environmental standards.

To reserve a cabin or to receive a copy of Ecoventura‚s 2010-2011 catalog please call toll-free 1.800.633.7972, or e-mail 
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