Abstract

In September 1997, the La Rinconada area was declared a marine reserve, due to its location, abundance of Argopecten purpuratus and its unique hydrodynamics. Over the last few years, regular sampling carried out on this scallop population has permitted experts to gather data on its reproductive cycle, abundance estimates and larval distribution. The authors have also studied the accumulation of postlarvae on a preferred natural substrate, the red alga Rhodymenia sp., as well as the effects of mass juvenile scallop seed collection using the Japanese-type collectors. Research carried out in the Reserve has focused on the management of the scallop populations and this has proved beneficial to the country. The primary goal has been to evaluate its potential as a constant, self-renewing source of seed scallops for use in aquaculture, since the area is well adapted for retention of larvae produced by the resident scallop population. Protective measures, aided by environmental conditions resulting from the 1997–98 ENSO (El Niño/Oscilación del Sur) events, promoted an increase in the natural banks from 6.1 x 106 scallops in 1997 to 11.3 x 106 individuals in 1999. In subsequent years however, oscillations in population numbers within the Reserve, due to illegal harvesting, have placed in doubt the continued success in the achievement of the primary goal stated above. The illegal extraction which affects these scallop beds has produced, similarly to that occurring in other (unprotected) Chilean scallop banks, a patent disregard for legislated national policy established for the protection and conservation of this marine resource. As noted, the application of harvesting restrictions on the commercialization of marine resources in Chile are not fully respected by the fishermen who, rather than following regulations designed to protect the resource and maintain it as a long-term renewable source of income, prefer to extract the more immediate economic benefits obtainable in the short-term.