The Galapagos fur seal is fully protected by the Galapagos National Park Service under Ecuadorean law (2). It will also benefit from the management of the Galapagos Islands and the surrounding waters as a national park and marine reserve (5) (9). As one of the first sites to be designated a Natural World Heritage Site (9), the recognition of the Galapagos' incredible and unique ecosystem will hopefully ensure the preservation of the islands' fauna and flora for generations to come.