Management regimes influence the response of Chilean kelp fishers when facing hypothetical future scenarios

Co-management of kelp resources in northern Chile involves diverse access regimes that could influence artisanal fishers’ responses to economic, environmental, and social changes. This study analyzes the responses of 126 fishers from 25 coastal associations in the Atacama and Coquimbo regions to three hypothetical scenarios: a significant drop in kelp prices, environmental impacts from El Niño, and increased illegal activity. The research uses surveys, contingency tables, and multinomial logistic regression to explore the socio-economic characteristics and response strategies of fishers within different management regimes, such as Regional Management Plans (MP) and Management and Exploitation Areas for Benthic Resources (MEABR). Results indicate that migratory status, resource dependence, and management regime in which they operate significantly influence fishers’ decisions. Particularly, MEABR affiliates are more likely to adopt conservation-oriented actions compared to those under MP when faced with the three types of shocks. This study contributes insights on critical variables which can be tailored to refine co-management policies to better accommodate future possible ecological and socio-economic changes.