Aqua Expeditions has entered into a partnership with the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) to help support conservation efforts in the Galápagos Islands. 

The partnership will raise funds for the foundation’s programmes in Shark Ecology and Conservation and Education and Outreach, helping to restore shark populations and protect their mangrove nurseries. 

The small-ship cruise line has pledged an annual donation of $5,000 to support these programmes. Guests can also contribute to the fundraising efforts by offering a donation or purchasing CDF merchandise while on board Aqua Mare. 

Delegates from the CDF will speak on board selected Aqua Mare sailings to offer more insight into its conservation efforts, and guests are also invited to visit the foundation’s Marine Research Centre. 

The announcement follows the recent news of Aqua Expeditions’ global sustainability partnership with 4Ocean. The new partnership with the CDF also forms part of the line’s ongoing conservation efforts, which have previously included the rehabilitation of Taricaya Turtles in the Peruvian Amazon and a partnership with the Indonesian Manta Project.