Chilean abalone populations crashed 90% from overfishing. A complex management system now assigns territorial use rights to fishing communities. Recovery is slow but measurable.
Dentren | Talk Original uploader was Dentren at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A Keystone Predator in Peril
Along the rocky shores of Chile and Peru lives Concholepas concholepas, a large marine snail known locally as "loco". Though marketed globally as Chilean abalone, it is not a true abalone; it is a carnivorous member of the Muricidae family, or rock snails. This species is an important predator, meaning its presence shapes the entire coastal ecosystem. It feeds on mussels and barnacles, controlling their populations and clearing space on rocks for other species like algae to grow, which in turn increases local biodiversity.
Driven by high demand from Asian markets, the loco fishery expanded dramatically in the late 1970s. Landings grew from around 5,000 tonnes in 1975 to a peak of 25,000 tonnes in 1980. This intense harvesting pressure, often called the "loco fever," led to a classic "tragedy of the commons" scenario. With open access to the fishing grounds, stocks were rapidly depleted. By the late 1980s, the population had collapsed, forcing the Chilean government to impose a nationwide ban on harvesting from 1989 to 1992.
An Experiment in Territorial Rights
The collapse of the loco fishery prompted a radical shift in fisheries management. In the 1990s, Chile implemented a system of Territorial Use Rights in Fisheries (TURFs). Known locally as Management and Exploitation Areas for Benthic Resources (AMERBs), this policy allocates exclusive access rights to specific parcels of the seabed to registered local fishing organizations. First implemented in 1997, the system turns fishers from competitors into stewards.
Under the co-management system, fishing associations work with scientists to create and implement management plans for their designated areas. This gives them a direct incentive to conserve the resource for long-term stability rather than engage in a short-term race to fish. Studies have shown that loco populations inside the AMERBs are significantly healthier, with higher densities and larger individuals compared to open-access areas outside the territories. While illegal fishing remains a problem, the legal landings have stabilized to between 2,500 and 5,000 tonnes annually since the system's adoption. The AMERB model is now studied globally as a potential solution for managing small-scale fisheries.
💡Fun Facts
*Concholepas concholepas* is called a "false abalone" because it's a predatory snail, whereas true abalones are herbivores.
Its blood contains hemocyanin, a copper-based protein that transports oxygen and turns blue when oxygenated. This substance is being researched for potential immunotherapeutic effects against some cancers.
The name "loco" is a loanword from the Mapudungun language of the indigenous Mapuche people.
The species was voted "International Mollusc of the Year 2023," which resulted in its entire genome being sequenced.
