The world’s largest schools of squid migrate northward here, followed by industrial fishers, who are collapsing the populations. Many protected areas are home to salmon farming, an industry linked with the intensive use of antibiotics, plastic pollution, eutrophication and broader ecosystem degradation.
We continue to support the campaign of Defendamos Chiloé to close more than 420 salmon farms in protected areas of Chilean Patagonia. A campaign video screened in New York’s Times Square in 2024 highlighted the number of farms in protected Patagonia, and showed two whales found dead near farms.
Through the campaign and pressure from local organisations, an agreement was signed between the government and two salmon farming companies, withdrawing nine aquaculture concessions from national parks in the Aysén and Magallanes regions.
Defendamos Chiloé is also spearheading campaigns such as ‘Apoyamos Los ECMPO’ (‘We Support ECMPOs’), which promotes the marine coastal spaces of indigenous peoples (ECMPOs) as a tool for marine protection. The campaign had an impact on votes in regional commissions for the use of coastal space in several districts with vital habitats for Patagonian marine biodiversity.
We also support Patagonia Projects and their research vessel, ‘Saoirse’, including monitoring cetaceans such as humpback, blue, sei and right whales.
Agreement between the Chilean government and two salmon companies to withdraw nine aquaculture concessions from national parks in the Aysén and Magallanes regions
Blue Marine’s focus is on the kelp forests that spread through Chile’s Pacific fjords, working with partners including Rewilding Chile, Patagonia Azul, SeaLegacy, Patagonia Projects and Defendamos Chiloe. Together we target overfishing and bycatch, industrial salmon farming, destructive trawling, and degradation of habitats — identifying key biodiversity areas and creating marine protected areas (MPAs) that work for the environment and coastal communities.
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This report presents a comprehensive overview of marine conservation efforts in Chilean Patagonia, focusing on the study and protection of baleen whales, benthic marine life, cetacean acoustics, and dolphin and orca behaviour, while highlighting community engagement, biodiversity documentation, and long-term monitoring of oceanic conditions in the Golfo de Penas, Patagonia.
23 June 2020
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From kelp forests and cold-water corals to blue whales and orcas, Patagonia teems with exceptional biodiversity. Blue Marine works with multiple partners to promote the creation of marine protected areas (MPAs) that can keep this wild place wild.
The reef ecosystem of the island nation is the seventh largest in the world and the most extensive in the Indian Ocean. Blue Marine is working with our locally affiliated NGO to make the reefs more resistant to climate change.
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