Chilean national benthic resources TURF program

Special design features

Among the largest area-based catch share programs in the world, the Chilean National Benthic Resources Territorial Use Rights for Fishing Programme (TURF Programme) includes over 17,000 artisanal fishermen co-managing over 550 distinct areas along the coast. The voluntary system primarily manages loco, Chile’s most valuable mollusc, and provides secure access to benthic resources to groups of artisanal fishermen. Management is built on science performed by universities and consultants, resulting in co-management by the government, industry and the private sector.

Synopsis

In 1991, Chile began implementing one of the largest species and area-based catch share programs in the world. The program focuses on managing the artisanal small-boat fishermen targeting nearshore benthic resources, specifically loco, the Chilean abalone.

Through the program, established groups of fishermen from sanctioned “caletas” or coves, are granted exclusive access to publicly owned benthic resources via an area concession called Management and Exploitation Areas of Benthic Resources, commonly referred to as Territorial Use Rights for Fishing (TURFs). Loco must be managed within a TURF and numerous other species are also eligible for exclusive use rights within the system.

Chile’s TURF Programme currently includes over 550 uniquely managed TURFs spanning Chile’s 2500+ mile coastline1. Not all portions of the marine area are currently managed via TURFs, but much of the coast is eligible to participate in the TURF Programme. In 2004, around 5,000 metric tonnes of loco where landed under the TURF Programme and the export value for loco was $55 million.

A number of government agencies oversee management of the TURFs Programme including: the Undersecretary of Fisheries, or Subsecretaria de Pesca (SUBPESCA), Chile’s lead fisheries management body; National Fishing Service, or Servicio Nacional de Pesca (SERNAPESCA; and 13 regional fishing councils and five Zone Fishing Councils, or Consejos Zonales de Pesca, which each represent more than one region.