Characterising the co-management system in the Biobío Region, Chile, based on fishers’ and experts’ knowledge: A dual perspective

Resumen: The conceptualizations of Territorial Use Rights for Fisheries (TURF) management, as perceived by both fishers and experts, offer valuable insights into the human component of social research in fisheries. These conceptualizations also contribute to accumulating local knowledge shared by fishers and other stakeholders involved in governance processes. This study aims to characterize the perspectives of both groups regarding selected TURFs in the Biobío Region, Chile. The information collected through surveys and interviews revealed significant variations in the quality and reliability of the data provided by participants. Our study combines a participatory systems approach, incorporating local inputs, with a structural analysis of influential and dependent attributes. According to the results, the TURF system can only be considered transformational from the fisher’s perspective if it leads to improved outcomes for their livelihoods and the ecosystem. Both fishers and experts have a deep mistrust of TURF’s future due to the current problems observed. The structural analysis identified organizational weakness, poaching, and conflicts between external actors and users as the main problems. Specifically, our study revealed that the participation and knowledge of fishers and experts are key processes for these complex, dynamic, and diverse social-ecological systems. Finally, we recommend greater integration between both parties to facilitate more sustainable and effective forms of collaborative management, such as including new stakeholders associated with the TURF through a transdisciplinary approach to obtain a more comprehensive view of the system.