Bitecma Ltda., Social enterprise and sustainable shellfish harvesting (Chile)

 

 

The organization and local perspectives on conservation and stewardship

 

Bitecma Ltda. is a social enterprise involved in artisanal fishing in Chile, and in the management of benthic resources. The mission of Bitecma Ltda. is to contribute our knowledge and experience to the development of the country’s fishing and aquaculture sector, through the design and execution of technical consultancies, studies and research in the field of Marine Sciences.

 

Bitecma and its workers are aware that uncontrolled exploitation will lead to the breakdown of ecosystems, and even more, to irreversible deterioration and disappearance of fishing resources. Our country has the privilege of having a very extensive coastline, but it must always be borne in mind that the sustainability of resources does not depend on the extension of the territory, but depends mainly on the care that our people give to it.

 

Stewardship experience: Area-based management and fishing of benthic resources (AMERB)

 

The issue or problem being addressed

The depletion of the shellfish resource, Loco (Concholepas concholepas) and other benthic resources, and illegal fishing.

 

The activities

Community use rights to artisanal fishermen organizations, who take care of these management areas and are advised by technicians who do fishing extension work.

 

The benefits/impacts including sustainability/environmental effects

Recoveries of natural populations of benthic resources, improvements in fishing activity and commercialization.

 

The success and significance of the activities

Most of the fishermen’s organizations have been motivated to request and manage management areas, but illegal fishing has made their work difficult.

 

Some lessons learned or words of wisdom

Involve the local community in work.

 

 

 

For more information on this Bitecma Ldta., visit: https://www.bitecma.cl/index.php/quienes-somos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Fishery Facts

(Below are the applicable categories of fisheries, environment, species, gear type and livelihood role.)

 

Fishery characteristics:

• Marine capture fishery (e.g. nearshore/coastal/reef-based/deep sea) 
• Inland capture fishery (e.g. river/lake/reservoir)
• Commercial fishery
• Recreational/ sport fishery
• Multi-species 

The environment where fishing takes place: 

• Coastal – Nearshore / Estuarine

Main species targeted:

• Molluscs (including bivalves and cephalopods – e.g. octopus/clams)
• Crustaceans (e.g. shrimp/prawn/lobster)
• Other animals (e.g. jellyfish/sea cucumber)
• Algae or seaweed and other aquatic plants 

Gear types/ methods used:

• Gillnet
• Line
• Dive
• Beach harvest/gleaning (e.g. collection of shellfish/algae/mangrove crabs etc.)

Role of the fishery in local livelihoods:

• Main source of employment
• Secondary/supplementary source of employment
• Seasonal