Scubaism

In a meeting Wednesday, Chile’s National Commission of Coastal Use voted to delay the establishment of a Protected Marine Coastal Area (AMCP) in the Gulf of Corcovado. This decision was made despite the Chilean government’s official approval of the proposal.

The area in question is a relatively new home for close to 200 migrating blue whales. The proposal seeks to declare 51,000 km of marine zone, in between the Chiloé and the Guaitecas Archipelagos of Regions X and XI, a protected area.

The Commission, presided by Minister of Defense José Goñi, chose to delay the validation of the proposal, and instead established a public board of representatives from each affected entity. The first board meeting will include members from CONAPACH, environmental groups, and the regional government, and is tentatively set for October.

Not all environmental organizations are supportive of the proposal for the establishment of the protected area. Some NGOS, like the Center for Cetacean Conservation and Ecoceanos, say that the true motives behind the proposed whale sanctuary have little to do with protecting the whales and more to do with future economic interest.

“It is simply a covert way to privatize an area only to open it up later for economic bids and development opportunities for the tourist industry,” said Juan Carlos Cárdenas, executive director of Chilean NGO Ecoceanos.

In fact, right alongside the proposed protected area south of Chiloé is Parque Tantauco, a pet project of businessman and presidential candidate Sebastián Piñera. Somewhat more disconcerting is the interest and involvement of Bernardo Matte, who has coordinated with other companies to support the establishment of the protected area. Matte is the president of electricity company Colbún.

The greatest evidence of economic interest over environmental concern in the protection of the area, according to Cárdenas, is that “the highest rate of blue whale sightings is near the island of Chiloé’s northeastern side and not in the Corcovado Gulf. This would leave nearly 60 percent of the blue whale population in Chile outside of the protected area.”