IFOP Promotes Sustainable Management of Fisheries Resources in Los Vilos
January 16th, 2025The Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP) organized a dissemination workshop in Caleta San Pedro, Los Vilos, aimed at leaders and partners of the main local artisanal fishermen organizations. The activity, entitled “Connecting knowledge for sustainable fisheries management”, sought to strengthen the sustainability of the Benthic Resources Management and Exploitation Areas (AMERB), integrating scientific results with local knowledge, in the management and administration practices of the main species in these areas.
Opening of the workshop: Context and objectives
The event began with welcoming remarks from IFOP, which highlighted the institute’s commitment to the dissemination of results generated by the AMERB Fisheries Monitoring Program. This program, which has been running since 2009, aims to evaluate the performance, the state of resources and the sustainability of the AMERBs, and to promote co-responsibility between the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture and artisanal fishermen.
AMERB Indicator Platform
Gabriela Arenas, IFOP researcher, presented a digital platform specially developed for the OPAs that own the AMERBs, which allows them to access historical information from the studies carried out by the consultants. This tool, which gathers key information on biofishery, ecological and socioeconomic aspects, allows users to access information on each of their AMERBs, and thus make informed management and handling decisions.
Larval dispersal and connectivity between management areas
Catherine González delved into the study of larval dispersal and connectivity between AMERBs, highlighting the importance of understanding how larvae move in the marine environment. Biophysical modeling and connectivity analyses have shown that the length of the larval phase directly influences dispersal, being essential for species such as the loco, the sea urchin, and the macha. González emphasized that management decisions must consider not only adults, but also the early phases of the life cycle and interactions with their environment. This approach helps to identify critical productive areas that require greater care and allows for the design of specific strategies for each species.
Assessment of the status of the loco resource
Álvaro Wilson presented the results of the assessment of the loco resource, emphasizing that, although the AMERBs have been effective in certain areas of the country, the resource remains in a state of overexploitation in much of the Chilean coast. This raises the need to strengthen and expand co-management practices between the state and the OPAs that own the AMERBs, suggesting that these should be adapted to spatial scales consistent with the ecological and social dynamics involved. Wilson shared the proposal to create public-private management committees that integrate scientific knowledge, local experiences and current regulations, ensuring management that is more adapted to the characteristics of each subpopulation of the resource.
Benthic Law and its impact on management
Cristian López, regional manager of artisanal fishing at SERNAPESCA, closed the workshop by explaining the changes introduced by the new Benthic Law, which establishes stricter traceability criteria and sanctions for non-compliance with the AMERB. These modifications include the expiration of management plans in cases of repeated violations and reinforce the need for shared responsibility between resource users and authorities. In addition, the Law introduces measures to ensure regularity in fishing activities, which contributes to more transparent and effective management.
Conclusions and projections
The workshop highlighted the importance of participatory instances to strengthen the relationship between applied science, the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Sernapesca and fishermen’s organizations. The active participation of the attendees underlined the importance of continuing to promote these initiatives, which not only improve resource management, but also reinforce the commitment to sustainability and conservation of these resources in the AMERBs.
This effort is a clear example of how applied science can be effectively integrated into fisheries management, moving towards more responsible management adapted to the complex realities of marine ecosystems.
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