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Safeguarding Humboldt’s biodiversity together

A collaborative marine force by Peru and Chile

By IW:LEARN

November 23^rd, 2023

The Humboldt Current Large Marine Ecosystem (HCLME) is a global biodiversity hotspot, renowned for hosting the world's most significant single-species fishery, the anchovy. This small but pivotal fish serves as a cornerstone for both the marine food web and the livelihoods of thousands of fish workers in Chile and Peru. Furthermore, this extraordinary ecosystem is home to an astonishing diversity of marine life, with more than 10,200 documented species, many of which are unique to this region and cannot be found elsewhere.

Marine protected areas along the coastal zones are crucial for preserving the essential goods and services of the Humboldt Current Large Marine Ecosystem. These areas play a vital role in the recovery of endangered species, the preservation of critical habitats, the support of sustainable tourism and scientific research, and the establishment of areas dedicated to environmental education. Their contributions are indispensable for the long-term health and vitality of this ecosystem, ensuring the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable management of marine resources.

© Cerebro/PNUD Chile/Proyecto Humboldt II

Marine protected areas play a fundamental role in achieving the 2030 Agenda and, in particular, Sustainable Development Goal 14, by significantly contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources, thereby ensuring a more prosperous and equitable future for generations.

Despite their importance, these marine areas still face significant challenges, including pollution, unsustainable fishing, the impact of climate change, and constant pressure on coastal ecosystems.

“In Pisagua (Chile), we face the challenge of fishing fleets invading our shores. They engage in a type of non-selective fishing, and most of the species that fall into their fishing gear are discarded because they are not permitted resources under regulations or they go for ‘molienda’ (processing). The people involved in this fishery have no love for the territory,”

says Marco Tobar, a diver in Pisagua.

“Overfishing is a constant concern. These boats take everything, extracting tons, and we have to work all day to catch five fish,"

says Carlos Rojas, an artisanal fisherman diver, in Pisagua, Chile.

In the face of the challenges that marine ecosystems, like the Humboldt Current Large Marine Ecosystem (HCLME), encounter, the voices of artisanal fishermen in places like Pisagua, Chile, paint a vivid picture of the pressing issues at hand. These fishermen, such as Marco Tobar and Carlos Rojas, wrestle daily with threats like invasive fishing fleets, non-selective fishing practices, and overfishing. Their struggles resonate with the broader concerns of protecting the vital HCLME.

“We want future generations to have what we've had. It is our duty to leave future generations a better ecosystem,”

says Carlos Rojas, an artisanal fisherman diver, in Pisagua, Chile.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework underscores the need to protect all oceans from overexploitation. As both nations commit to restoring degraded ecosystems, the establishment of marine protected areas is pivotal. Currently, Peru has achieved approximately 8% marine protected area coverage, with Chile surpassing 40% in their territorial waters, including the recently approved "Mar de Pisagua" Coastal Marine Protected Area. These actions strengthen the representation and preservation of this important ecosystem.

About the project

The Humboldt II is an initiative executed by the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SUBPESCA) of Chile and the Vice Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Peru (VMPA-PRODUCE). The project is implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and co-financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project aims to promote the establishment of a network of technical cooperation in prioritized marine areas for the conservation of the Humboldt Current System, addressing cross-border challenges related to the management of protected areas and contributing to the sustainability of shared marine ecosystems. Through this bilateral cooperation mechanism, the aim is to promote the conservation of marine biodiversity, sustainable resource management, scientific research, and environmental diplomacy, among other benefits.

The establishment of this cooperation network will strengthen efforts to comprehensively address the conservation challenges of HCLME, protect migratory species where bi-national cooperation is essential to ensure their protection along their migration routes, provide opportunities for sharing experiences and lessons learned about the management of protected areas, and build and enhance capabilities for research and management of these spaces. This will allow for joint research to gain a more comprehensive understanding of shared marine ecosystems and improve evidence-based decision-making, among other benefits.