Networks
SECOS has developed a solid network of national and international collaboration with research centers, universities, non-governmental organizations, government agencies and private sector actors linked to coastal zones. These strategic alliances have been key to advancing joint research, co-production of knowledge and advocacy in public policy and territorial processes.
Currently, SECOS maintains formal agreements with 18 institutions and actively participates in informal collaborations based on the exchange of knowledge and mutual trust. These networks have allowed the development of monitoring campaigns, student training, scientific publications, outreach activities and projects with social and ecological impact.
At the national level, the collaborations with centers such as CEAZA, which has strengthened ocean monitoring and environmental education around mollusk aquaculture, and with CAPES, with whom publications, student mentoring and outreach events that integrate science and art have been generated. Together with the Millennium Institute of Oceanography (IMO), courses have been given with Latin American participation and activities open to the public. Internationally, SECOS has collaborated with Stanford’s Center for Ocean Solutions to address illegal fishing, and participates in global initiatives such as Blue Food Assessment, SCOR and the Ecosystem Change and Society program.
Partnerships with NGOs have also been fundamental. With Advanced Conservation Strategies, progress has been made towards a systemic approach to artisanal fisheries management in Chile and Peru. With Capital Azul, policies were promoted to incorporate artisanal fishermen in conservation actions, and with The Nature Conservancy Chile, huiro restoration and environmental education initiatives were developed.
Coordination with government institutions has included agreements with IFOP, SERNAPESCA and the Undersecretariat of Fisheries, enabling the development of analytical tools, policies on recreational fishing and the participation of researchers in climate change committees. SECOS has also generated links with the National Congress through a project that analyzes the use of scientific evidence in environmental decisions, currently accompanied by the development of a digital platform to link science and policy.
Regarding work with social and private organizations, collaborations with fishermen’s federations and associations throughout the country stand out, such as the Hualaihué Federation, CONAPACH and AmiChile, allowing progress in the adaptation of artisanal fishing and small-scale aquaculture.
Finally, SECOS has promoted an innovative crossovers between Art and Science in coastal contexts. The “Tiempos de Muralismo” project, carried out with artists and school communities in six localities, resulted in murals that integrate memories, emotions and traditional knowledge with scientific research.
This initiative was selected for the Personal Structures Biennial in Venice (2022). In addition, SECOS promoted the I Biennial Concepción Art & Science, creating an unprecedented platform of encounter between disciplines to address socio-ecological challenges from a creative and collaborative perspective.
Redes formales de colaboración:
This collaboration has led to the development of a systemic approach to the management of artisanal hake, seaweed and octopus fisheries. The project has already created an online platform that is currently being used in participatory mapping exercises. Its results have been shared with communities, foundations and at scientific conferences.
Advanced Conservation Strategies
The collaboration between SECOS and the Fundación Capital Azul has proven to be key to institutionalize the new policy that allows the implementation of marine reserves within the Benthic Resources Management and Exploitation Areas in Chile.
Fundación Capital Azul
The SECOS-IFOP agreement has enabled addressing aspects of environmental monitoring with a focus on shellfish aquaculture. Efforts have focused on implementing a system to visualize oceanographic data in a format that is easier to use and understand, adapted to end users such as small-scale aquaculture and artisanal fishermen.
Instituto de Fomento Pesquero
This collaboration agreement strengthens the scientific activities, training and national and international networks of SECOS and IMO and has continued to organize joint courses and webinars, as well as research projects involving researchers from both ANID centers.
Instituto Milenio en Oceanografía
This agreement establishes to jointly carry out research projects, programs and activities in various areas of mutual interest in ocean monitoring, outreach and educational activities. This includes scallop farming and support for research on the linkages between oceanographic changes, ENSO events and global market changes that affect artisanal and industrial aquaculture in the region.
Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas
A collaboration agreement to strengthen scientific activities, training and national and international networking has resulted in joint publications and the launching of a new 2-year project to monitor coastal rocky species in central Chile (project: FIPA 2024-32).
Centro CAPES UC
The SECOS-TNC partnership has led to environmental education initiatives and the development of expert consultation methodologies that are being used to inform recreational fisheries management policies in Chile. The Undersecretariat of Fisheries has used these results to design recreational fisheries management regulations. This collaboration also includes an initiative on culture and restocking activities with Lessonia spicata in the artisanal fishing cove of Chigualoco, Coquimbo Region.
The Nature Conservancy
Within the framework of the formal agreement signed between SECOS and SERNAPESCA, our collaborative project on the development of analytical tools and early warning signals for fishery enforcement officers has advanced considerably. The tool is currently being jointly tested by SECOS and SERNAPESCA. The agreement has also been extended to include an analysis of judicial processes. A series of joint workshops have been held and a close relationship with SERNAPESCA will be maintained as a result of this ongoing initiative.
Servicio Nacional de Pesca y Acuicultura
The collaboration with the Center for Ocean Solutions (Stanford University) focuses on mitigating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by analyzing risks across industrial and artisanal fleets within Chile's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Combining satellite-based Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) and Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) with data from local artisanal fleets, the project integrates innovative risk models and enforcement data to identify high-risk areas, times and practices.
Center for Ocean Solutions
This agreement establishes a formal collaboration with the Data Observatory Foundation, framed within the “IDEOS” project (Spatial Data Infrastructure for the Assessment of Ocean Health in Chile, ANID, FONDEF ID24I10204). The initiative focuses on the integration of GIS, scientific data and machine learning based on the Ocean Health Index framework to support research and policy formulation.
Data Observatory
Liceo Carmen Rodríguez de Tongoy
The Hualaihué Fishers Federation is a key association in the coastal zone of the Los Lagos region, with whom we collaborate in developing joint transdisciplinary approaches to address the adaptive capacity of both artisanal fisheries and mussels aquaculture initiatives.
Federación de Pescadores Artesanales de Hualaihué
Otras redes de colaboración:
This collaboration has led to improved local capacity and sustainable resource management, supporting artisanal fisheries sustainability and ecosystem restoration. This includes a joint collaboration in AMERBS on algae restoration in Horcón Cove, together with artisanal fishermen and SECOS researchers.
BITECMA
This collaboration resulted in the study “Towards sustainability in the artisanal common hake fishery”, developed by Oceana, Future of Fish, Advanced Conservation Strategies and SECOS, which presents different measures to contribute to the recovery of common hake, which is currently overfished.
Oceana
Global network of territory-based socio-ecological research; SECOS director is a member of the scientific advisory board of this global network.
Programme on Ecosystem Change and Society
This agreement led to research collaborations, as well as joint projects on shell waste management from shellfish farming and artificial reefs for marine restoration (SHELL-NBS and ANID-IDeA projects). We are currently working on early warning signals for the availability of Chilean mussel seeds.