Identifying priority areas for improvement in Chilean fisheries (original) (raw)
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As part of their efforts to improve the national fisheries management system, Chilean fisheries authorities have identified the need to develop a fisheries research program based on state-of-the-art fisheries knowledge and information systems. To meet this challenge, a structural matrix analysis of the existing cognitive system and a literature review was conducted. Knowledge gaps were identified through a comparison of the literature review and a conceptual model. The analysis suggests that research has largely been focused on fisheries biology studies, with little emphasis given to oceanographic factors, while almost no research on economic, social, or governability factors has been conducted. The analysis points to those elements that are needed to establish a research program that addresses priority elements towards the goal of sustainable fisheries in Chile. In spite of the analysis conducted on governance aspects of the existing fisheries management system, the analysis presented here is mainly focused on oceanographic, biological, technological, and economic aspects of the Chilean fisheries system. Thus, there is a need for further analysis of both social and governance aspects of fisheries.
2021
The United Nations calls on the international community to implement an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) that considers the complex interrelationships between fisheries and marine and coastal ecosystems, including social and economic dimensions. However, countries experience significant national challenges for the application of the EAF. In this article, we used public officials’ knowledge to understand advances, gaps, and priorities for the implementation of the EAF in Chile. For this, we relied on the valuable information held by fisheries managers and government officials to support decision-making. In Chile, the EAF was established as a mandatory requirement for fisheries management in 2013. Key positive aspects include the promotion of fishers’ participation in inter-sectorial Management Committees to administrate fisheries and the regulation of bycatch and trawling on seamounts. Likewise, Scientific Committees formal roles in management allow the participation of scientis...
Sustainability of the Artisanal Fishery in Northern Chile: A Case Study of Caleta Pisagua
Sustainability, 2020
The Humboldt Current, one of the most productive waters in the world, flows along the Chilean coast with high primary production level. However, living marine resources in these waters are declining due to overexploitation and other anthropogenic and environmental factors. It has been reported that deploying artificial reefs in coastal waters can improve the production of benthic resources. To ensure the sustainability of coastal fisheries in northern Chile this study aims to investigate fishermen’s perceptions on deploying artificial reefs and propose future management measures using Caleta Pisagua as a case study. Interviews of artisanal fishermen regarding four aspects: fishermen profile, fishing activity, resources, and artificial reefs were conducted. Results showed that most fishermen favored the implementation of artificial reefs within the Areas of Management and Exploitation of Benthic Resources (AMERBs). In addition, deploying artificial reefs appears to be socio-economica...
Territorial user rights for artisanal fisheries in Chile – intended and unintended outcomes
Ocean & Coastal Management, 2013
Granting property rights in fisheries is assumed to provide incentives for sustainable resource exploitation. These rights might also open other income options for fishers, including some that go beyond the original objectives intended by authorities establishing the right. The opportunity for alternative uses is especially high if the details of these rights are not clearly identified. In Chile, a de novo TURF (Territorial User Rights for Fishery) system, called Management Exploitation Areas for Benthic Resources (Áreas de Manejo y Explotación de Recursos Bentónicos-AMERB) was created to achieve sustainable exploitation of benthic resources. This study compares two small-scale fishing communities in Chile, Guayacán and Huentelauquén, representing two typical contrasting settings, regarding geographical contexts and surroundings, origin, history, location, social embeddedness, main fisheries activities as well as the motivation and the process through which they acquired their AMERB. While in Guayacán the main fishing activity outside the AMERB is the giant squid and finfish fishery, in Huentelauquén the main and traditional activity has been diving for benthic resources. The objectives to acquire their AMERBs were different in both cases. Huentelauquén applied the AMERB for their traditional activity, the fishery of Concholepas concholepas ("loco"), thus in accordance with the official objective of the AMERB. Due to reduced catches of loco, fishers also added the collection of kelps, using their AMERB to control access to the entire coast surrounding their fishing community, beyond the limits of their AMERB. In Guayacán the AMERB, applied for the management of scallops and a species of red algae, began to be used for sea squirt aquaculture. Within the framework of sustainable fisheries implied by the AMERBs, there was in both cases a clear expectation to gain new sources of income. However with time both AMERBs are being used as a tool for territorial exclusion of other fishers beyond the limits of their respective AMERBs. In Huentelauquén fishers mention mostly negative aspects about the performance of their AMERB, given the poor economic results, being unsatisfied with the AMERB system in general, because they feel that the system disrupted their traditional migration along the coast. In Guayacán, fishers mentioned mostly positive aspects for their AMERB, as it was an opportunity to add new activities. Both examples show that rights-based management approaches are very attractive; they could promote new uses or developments, whose sustainability nevertheless needs to be analyzed further. The analyzed case studies show that, contrary to how the system was developed in Chile, a more bottom-up implementation of new management arrangements may make it easier to agree on common objectives, and/or leave more freedom for fishers to adjust and arrange their livelihood. Considering the importance the AMERBs have acquired for fishers, these kinds of systems need flexible regulations in order that fishers can adapt the system to local traditions, uses or needs and also to their learning and adapting capacities.
New regulations in Chilean fisheries and aquaculture: ITQ's and territorial users rights
Ocean & Coastal Management, 1999
The large industrial fishery development that turn Chile into the third fishing nation in the world is described, and recent regulatory innovations introduced by new Fishery and Aquaculture legislation are reviewed. In addition to classical Fishery management tools, different types of limited entry systems are now defined in the law and applicable to Chilean fisherie. These for the first time include allocation of resources in the form of Individual Fishing Quotas and Individual Transferable Quotas (IFQs and ITQs). Territorial User's Rights in Fisheries (TURF's) were incorporated in the law to enhance self-regulatory practices among artisanal fishermen. Among them, the Areas for Management and Exploitation for Benthic Resources (AME) represent an associative assignment of TURFs. Large-scale zoning is used to re-define Aquaculture Grants and to ritualise the conflicts between Artisanal and Industrial fishermen by establishing the Artisanal Reserve in which small-scale coastal fishermen have Priority Access. Performance of the new management instruments are documented with case studies, for the following fisheries: the loco (Concholepas concholepas) a carnivorous snail, keyhole limpets (Fissurella spp.), langostino or squat lobster (Cervimunida johni), Black hake (Dissostichus eleginoides) and the Yellow prawn (Pleuroncodes monodon).
Chile’s National Aquaculture Policy: missing elements for the Sustainable Development of aquaculture
This paper reviews the recently enacted Chilean National Aquaculture Policy (NAP). It goes through its central objective, summarises its main components and points out the main actions already underway by the government in the process of implementing this policy. The paper underlines the fact that this is one of the few national policies around the world explicitly setting Sustainable Development (SD) as its central and main objective. The paper also points out two main weaknesses worthy of discussion. The first weakness is the partial way in which the NAP focuses equity and the effect that not properly recognising the existence of ‘resource rent’ or ‘user cost’ may have on the final pursued objective. The second weakness is the fact that presently the NAP lacks a proper approach to deal with the complex spatial, multifactor, ecosystems, dynamic and anthropocentric nature of aquaculture.
Navigating transformations in governance of Chilean marine coastal resources
Proceedings of the …, 2010
Marine ecosystems are in decline. New transformational changes in governance are urgently required to cope with overfishing, pollution, global changes, and other drivers of degradation. Here we explore social, political, and ecological aspects of a transformation in governance of Chile's coastal marine resources, from 1980 to today. Critical elements in the initial preparatory phase of the transformation were (i) recognition of the depletion of resource stocks, (ii) scientific knowledge on the ecology and resilience of targeted species and their role in ecosystem dynamics, and (iii) demonstration-scale experimental trials, building on smaller-scale scientific experiments, which identified new management pathways. The trials improved cooperation among scientists and fishers, integrating knowledge and establishing trust. Political turbulence and resource stock collapse provided a window of opportunity that triggered the transformation, supported by new enabling legislation. Essential elements to navigate this transformation were the ability to network knowledge from the local level to influence the decision-making processes at the national level, and a preexisting social network of fishers that provided political leverage through a national confederation of artisanal fishing collectives. The resultant governance scheme includes a revolutionary national system of marine tenure that allocates user rights and responsibilities to fisher collectives. Although fine tuning is necessary to build resilience of this new regime, this transformation has improved the sustainability of the interconnected social-ecological system. Our analysis of how this transformation unfolded provides insights into how the Chilean system could be further developed and identifies generalized pathways for improved governance of marine resources around the world.
PLOS ONE, 2021
Increasing attention is paid to the interdependence between the ecological and human dimensions to improve the management of natural resources. Understanding how artisanal fishers see and use the common-pool resources in a co-management system may hold the clue to establishing effective coastal fisheries policies or strengthening existing ones. A more comprehensive planning of the system will also have a bearing on how to reduce conflicts and strengthen social networks. We surveyed artisanal fishers and decision-makers to determine their perceptions about the Management and Exploitation Areas of Benthic Resources (known as MEABR) in Chile’s Biobio region. We performed a field study from November 2018 to August 2019, applying a set of questionnaires to determine the ecological and human attributes that contribute to MEABR outcomes, and then constructed composite scores for those attributes according to a multidimensional scaling technique (“Rapfish”). We find that fishers have differ...
The Political Economy of Marine Fisheries Development in Peru, Chile and Mexico
Journal of Latin American Studies, 2000
Latin American fish production has expanded significantly in recent years. Unfortunately, as management systems in the three major Latin American fish producing countries have not developed at the same pace, all three countries now experience problems of overfishing and industrial overcapitalisation. This article examines the distinctive national fisheries development programmes that have led to this ' tragedy of the oceans '. By comparing and contrasting the Peruvian, Chilean and Mexican management styles, it offers a critical assessment regarding the likely direction of future Latin American fisheries policy.
Institutional context and governance of Peruvian fisheries and aquaculture
2021
This report summarizes and describes the main state-driven processes related to the governance of the coastal fisheries and (marine) aquaculture sectors (i.e. mariculture) in Peru. It was produced in the frame of the Peruvian-German Humboldt Tipping project (Social-Ecological Tipping Points of the Northern Humboldt Current Upwelling System, Economic Repercussions and Governance Strategies) funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The project aims to assess the risk of decreased marine ecosystem productivity as a turning point for the ecological, economic and social systems that are interconnected under the Humboldt Current Upwelling System (HCUS). Within this framework, the artec Sustainability Research Center of the University of Bremen is responsible for the working package which focuses on transdisciplinary science and the analysis of the repercussions of environmental changes for marine governance regimes in Peru (WP 7).