Between August 25 and 28, technical and participatory activities were held in the town of Camarones, Province of Chubut, aimed at planning the public use of the Southern Patagonia Interjurisdictional Coastal Marine Park (PIMCPA). This initiative is part of the agreements signed between the Government of the Province of Chubut, the National Parks Administration (APN), and the Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea and Areas of Influence, within the framework of the MaRes Project.
The project “Strengthening the Resilience of Marine Coastal Protected Areas in Argentina (MaRes)”, funded by the European Union, aims to improve the resilience of the country’s Coastal and Marine Protected Areas, promoting their effective management and their capacity to adapt to environmental challenges.
The decision to move forward with the development of the PIMCPA Public Use Program stems from the joint work of the Interjurisdictional Management Commission, made up of national and provincial authorities, which at its first formal meeting—held on December 2, 2024—defined among its priorities the need to regulate activities within the protected area. At that meeting, it was agreed to promote the formulation of specific regulations for artisanal and sport fishing, including seaweed harvesting and octopus fishing, as well as to instruct the park’s administration to begin the process of planning public use. These decisions paved the way for requesting technical support from the MaRes Project and coordinating efforts with specialized organizations and local actors, using a participatory approach.
Workshop for the development of the Public Use Program – PIMCPA
Member organizations of the Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea and areas of influence within this activity, in particular Global Penguin Society, Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina, WCS Argentina, and Fundación Cambio Democrático, actively participate in the MaRes Project, together with the Ministry of Tourism and Protected Areas of Chubut and the National Parks Administration as government counterparts.
The Public Use Program (PUP) seeks to organize and promote tourism, recreation, and sustainable artisanal fishing in the protected area, ensuring the conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems. This planning is carried out in a participatory manner, in line with the PIMCPA Management Plan approved in 2018, with the aim of reconciling conservation with the socioeconomic development of local communities.
Community participation is essential in developing the Public Use Program – PIMCPA
On August 26 and 27, the Second Workshop of the PIMCPA Public Use Program (PUP) was held, with the participation of sixty representatives from various public and private sectors at the local, provincial, and national levels. Using a participatory methodology, participants worked on assessing the current situation, prioritizing tourist and recreational attractions and sites relevant to artisanal and sport fishing. The process provided key inputs and criteria that will guide the development of the plan, gathering both consensus and different perspectives and experiences.
As a complement, on Thursday, August 28, an open dialogue session was held for the local community entitled “Progress and challenges of the PIMCPA public use program,” which brought together some thirty people. During the meeting, the main advances of the previous workshop were shared, and a space was created to add contributions and enrich the process through participatory facilitation tools.
Workshop for the development of the Public Use Program – PIMCPA
The activities took place in the multipurpose room of the “Camarones Municipal Gymnasium”, whose staff provided valuable support. Authorities participated, including the Undersecretary of Conservation and Protected Areas of the Province of Chubut, Nadia Bravo; the Mayor of PIMCPA, Juan Duro; Nicolás Ortiz, Director of Cenpat – Conicet; the Head of the local Prefecture, Officer Marcos Enrique Da Rosa; and the Secretary of Government of the Municipality of Camarones, Mario Arriagada.
One of the highlights of both days was the recognition of the region’s rich natural and cultural heritage, which has great potential to be sustainably enhanced. At this second meeting, based on the opportunities already identified, progress was made in developing and agreeing on proposals for the development of activities related to the landscape, wildlife observation, local cuisine, history, rural activities, and access to coastlines and islands, among other attractions.
This public use planning process represents a key step in consolidating a participatory and integrated management model for the PIMCPA, ensuring both the conservation of the environment and the well-being of the communities that inhabit and value this territory.
