Goats were eradicated from several islands. Organized tourism began in 1970, when 1000 tourists visited the islands. Tourism has grown to an estimated 60,000 visitors annually in the 1990's. The impact of this on the islands has been kept to a minimum by implimentation of very tight controls and regulation of tour operators. Tourists eat and sleep on tour boats and are allowed to come ashore only in designated areas, and then only under the supervision of licensed guides.
Many problems remain in the Galapagos, however.
The number of Ecuadorians living in the islands is increasing dramatically and straining scare resources. Fishing activities, particularly sea cumumber fishing around Fernandina , threatens marine biota directly and the terrestrial biota indirectly through introduction of foriegn species to this largely pristine island. The Ecuadorian government lacks the resources, and often the political will, necessary to protect the islands from harmful activities. The worst problem, however, remains that of feral animals. Dogs, cats, and rats are threatening marine iguanas and seabirds on many islands.