Marine conservation may not deliver ecosystem services and benefits to all: Insights from Chilean Patagonia

Gains in biodiversity from marine conservation might not correlate with a fair distribution of benefits, situation that has been narrowly documented. We analyzed how different social actors perceived changes in ecosystem services (ESs) and benefits from marine conservation and explored barriers preventing access to benefits, based on the Marine Protected Area of Multiple Uses (MUMPA) Almirantazgo Sound located in the Chilean Patagonia. We applied a semi-structured interview to artisanal fishers, tourism operators, State representatives and researchers (n = 86) and analyzed the data through frequency analysis and Covariance Analysis. Interviewees identified various ESs but prioritized food provision, maintenance of genetic diversity, and information for cognitive development, and among several benefits, they prioritized basic materials for a good life. Fishers were the most dependent on ESs and benefits, (i.e., food provision and employment/nutrition, respectively). Social actors’ general perception was that the MUMPA will not change wellbeing homogeneously, which can be explained by specific access barriers, such as reduced fishing entree. Most interviewees, despite personal attributes, recognized tour operators as the main ‘winners’ of the MUMPA creation and fishers as the main ‘losers’. For an inclusive governance, managers face the challenge of ‘reshaping’ the disparate images actors have on what the MUMPA is and does.