From a Brown to a blue economy in Chile

Abstract

The Chilean brown economy continues to expand, without specific definition of sustainable limits or how to transition to an ecologically balanced future. The article first reviews marine democracy across 42 cases of mining and coastal refinery projects, port developments, aquaculture, factory contamination, wind farms, coal and property development. In depth, an industrial fish factory cluster in Arica, a coastal zone impacted by mining in Chañaral, and fjord aquaculture in Puyuhapi. Using semi structured interviews, and participatory GIS focus groups, it shows the same issues repeat, and how a new participatory marine democratic system might transition the blue economy.