The government is attempting to coax the island's 400 fishing boats into fishing near the fringe of the Galapagos marine reserve's 40-mile (64-km) perimeter, with promises of support to help them sell their catches to bigger tuna fleets.

"The best thing that could happen to Galapagos is to get fisherman out to the 38, or 39 mile (62 km), as far as possible from the 2-mile radius," Environment Minister Lourdes Luque told reporters.

Fishing is an age-old source of controversy in the pristine Galapagos, whose unique cluster of sea lions, tropical birds, giant tortoises and iguanas inspired 19th century British naturalist Charles' Darwin's theory of natural selection.

Industrial tuna fisherman from the coastal port city of Manta want permits to fish in the reserve, 600 miles (1,000 km) west of mainland Ecuador, while every few weeks marine authorities catch illegal boats stacked with shark fins inside the park's limits.

Environmental organizations oppose letting industrial fleets fish in the Galapagos, fearing rare birds and marine life will get caught in tuna nets. Tuna was Ecuador's fifth biggest export last year.

Luque said the plan to entice local fishermen away from the coastline would aid conservation efforts and keep the peace with Manta's tuna industry.