At the La Isla Ecological Park in the commune of Concón (Valparaíso Region), the launch ceremony of the “Action Plan for the Conservation of Seabirds in Chile” was held — a milestone in the nation’s efforts to safeguard marine biodiversity.
The event was led by the Minister of the Environment, Maisa Rojas, and attended by representatives from the NGO Audubon for the Americas, along with researchers, local authorities, and organizations dedicated to marine wildlife conservation.
Biodiversity is facing a rapid and concerning decline globally due to the impact of unsustainable human activities, which have caused significant degradation of natural ecosystems. In Chile, seabirds are particularly threatened by broad factors such as climate change and the introduction of invasive exotic species, as well as specific pressures like incidental capture in fisheries.
The new Plan is part of the National Bird Conservation Strategy 2021–2030, which aims to strengthen the conservation of birds and their habitats in Chile through coordinated actions among the State, the scientific community, civil society, and the productive sector. The initiative seeks to promote collaborative and urgent management in response to the challenges faced by the country’s birdlife.
Luis Adasme, researcher at the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP) and member of the core group that supported the plan’s development, emphasized:
“Having an Action Plan for the Conservation of Seabirds in Chile makes us proud of the work carried out, but it also challenges us to meet the guidelines and specific actions it includes. Among them is the update and implementation of the National Plan to Reduce Incidental Capture in Fisheries, which aims to reduce seabird mortality in fisheries such as hake, Patagonian toothfish, and sardine-anchovy in purse-seine fleets.”
The “Action Plan for the Conservation of Seabirds in Chile” focuses on the protection of 135 species that inhabit, breed, or migrate through national territory. Its main goals include strengthening scientific research, consolidating interinstitutional partnerships, improving public policies, promoting sustainable practices in the fisheries and production sectors, and encouraging education and citizen participation to protect the country’s marine and coastal ecosystems.
“This Plan reflects the nation’s commitment to conserving its natural heritage and to promoting more responsible and sustainable fishing,” stated the Ministry of the Environment, highlighting the collaboration among public institutions, scientific organizations, and civil society as key to the successful implementation of the plan.
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