Today, after decades of action by islanders and conservationists, including Earle who described it as a critical “Hope Spot” to protect marine life, the almost obliterated seal population has made a remarkable recovery. An estimated 200,000 fur seals now live around the islands, “returning them to their previous role as key members of the ecosystem” says Earle, now 90, who returned to the island to dive in December 2025.

Last week, Earle and the 1,000-strong community of mainly lobster fishers were celebrating a new conservation win: earlier this month, in one of his last acts as the president of Chile, before José Antonio Kast was elected on 11 March, Gabriel Boric signed a historic agreement to extend protection of 337,000 sq km (130,000 sq miles) of the waters around Juan Fernández and the nearby Nazca-Desventuradas marine park.