Abstract

Interactions between the South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens, SASL) and artisanal fisheries represent a growing conflict in Chile and other Southern Cone countries, with ecological and economic implications. Various factors, such as prey availability, proximity to breeding colonies, environmental conditions, and operational characteristics of fishing,can influence the frequency and intensity of these interactions. This study evaluated ecological, environmental, and operational variables affecting the number and interaction of SASL with artisanal common hake (Merluccius gayi gayi) fisheries in central Chile. A total of 96 fishing operations conducted between November 2020 and November 2021 were analyzed using generalized linear models to assess SASL abundance and fishery interaction. The interaction frequency was 44.8% for gillnets and 31% for longlines, with most events occurring during the hauling phase. Seabird presence, fishing depth, cloud cover, and gear type were significant predictors of the number of SASL individuals observed. The probability of interaction increased with the number of SASL present, although most events involved small groups (<= 4 individuals), suggesting opportunistic behavior. These results indicate that interactions are not random but respond to specific environmental and operational conditions. Furthermore, they suggest that artisanal fishing may act as a trophic facilitator, offering energetically accessible resources for SASL. This study provides key evidence that could support the design of mitigation strategies to reduce conflict between SASL and fisheries in Chile and across South America.