An ecologist whose studies of marine iguanas in the Galapagos Islands were ruined when the oil tanker Jessica ran aground in January 2001 is to receive US$600,000 compensation.

Princeton University researcher Martin Wikelski says that he will use the money to set up a trust fund for young Ecuadorian scientists.

The payout is part of a US$10 million damages package awarded to the Galapagos National Park by an Ecuadorian court last week.

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Reference: Nature 419, 550 (2002)