Why do state interventions in artisanal fisheries often fail in Chile? Misalignment to the way of life of fishers

Abstract

Political and economic transformations in the 1980s in Chile produced an increase in exports of valuable fishery resources over the last 30–40 years. In order to improve or resolve problems, the state implemented diverse interventions and changes in the administrative and cultural processes in artisanal or small-scale fisheries. Nevertheless, the results were not as expected, and diverse problems become evident. This study tries to explain the failures of state interventions in artisanal fisheries, studying the motivations of small-scale fishers to start, stay or abandon the activity. Based on 473 structured interviews in the Regions of Antofagasta, Atacama and Coquimbo (ca 1800 Km of coast) in Chile, we evidenced that fishers’ main motivation to carry out small-scale fishing, is the way of life it allows, mainly the independence and the dynamic relation with the environment and their fishery resources. This logic does not adjust to the logic of state interventions, which pursue increased production, to serve unlimited international markets with the aim of economic profit. The intention to transform the way of life of fishers will put at risk the global sustainability of the system. The failures of state interventions are understandable and welcome because they should make way to a necessary discussion about policies that favor the conservation of the logic of the way of life of the majority of fishers, that properly adjust to environmental dynamics, leading to a conservative use of fishery resources.