Rethinking ocean governance: interview with Laura Ramajo
Laura Ramajo is an alternate member of the IAI’s Scientific Advisory Committee. She is a biologist and has a doctorate in global change and is an adjunct researcher at the Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR2) in Chile.
What are the challenges of marine governance in the face of economic development and how can conservation and economic growth be aligned?
First, it must be made clear that economic development is not opposed to conservation or environmental protection. Scientific evidence is very clear in identifying that the two go hand in hand.
We know, for example, that wildfires or water crises have impacts on the economy and gross domestic products because now the state will have to allocate many funds to address the related effects. When we understand that a healthy ecosystem is more productive, we understand that the quality and abundance of resources are also greater. But a problem we have is the overexploitation of resources. We know that illegal fishing is very high and probably exceeds the total landings of fish and other organisms that are legally extracted. The latest studies indicate that we have overexploitation of marine resources, which comes from both overfishing and illegal fishing.
"The goal should be to build socio-ecological systems that are resilient and capable of reaching agreements to avoid socio-environmental conflicts"
Governance has not been adequate in protecting these environments. Not much has been said about the role of salmon farms, for example, in some areas such as the fjords of Chile and Argentina. Efforts are being made for these industries to operate in a cleaner manner considering the carrying capacity of the fjords. But this governance, this decision-making, should incorporate all actors, beyond the State and the different representatives of industries or sectors such as artisanal fishing. This space is shared with coastal tourism and other social actors who occupy the same territory and must be part of this decision-making.
Do you consider that there is an effective reception of scientific recommendations in the Americas? What is the process for raising the concerns of indigenous peoples to decision-makers?
I have had the opportunity to participate, for example, in the construction of the Regional Climate Action Plan for the Coquimbo region, which is a region located in the central-north of Chile, which is quite vulnerable to climate change because it has experienced a sustained decrease in precipitation over the last decade.
It was quite interesting to participate and lead this consultancy we did for the Ministry of Environment in Chile, because we had the opportunity to generate a working group that was practically all scientific, coming from academia and science, to also generate, in a participatory manner, these plans together with the different institutions and different social groups that exist in the region, each with their own interests and also their recommendations and ideas to address the effects and impacts of climate change.
"In Chile, the Climate Change Framework Law establishes that all decisions made must have a scientific basis"
In the last two years, we have been participating together with a research group from the Catholic University of the North and other researchers from other universities in the country in supporting the construction of the municipal climate change plan in Rapa Nui. We have had the opportunity to conduct a risk study and also to gather from the population and from different sectors what are the most important actions for the protection of archaeological and natural heritage, the tourism sector, and the artisanal fishing sector, which are socio-economic and heritage sectors quite important for the island.
In my opinion, it is quite important for science to be involved in these public policy creation processes. In Chile, for example, the Climate Change Framework Law establishes that all decisions made must have a scientific basis.
How should environmental education be deepened to improve sensitivity towards oceans and their ecosystems?
Education plays a crucial role in changing public perception about human impacts on the oceans. It is important to use diverse platforms to inform and educate the population about how our actions affect the seas. Strategies such as awareness campaigns, formal and informal education, and participation in practical activities can help foster greater respect and care for our oceans. These efforts must be inclusive and encompass the whole society to ensure significant changes in how we value and treat marine resources. Additionally, it is crucial that environmental education fosters community empowerment so that people become active agents of change in ocean conservation.
Where should efforts be focused to control plastic proliferation? What kind of obligations should countries assume?
The issue of plastic is quite important because, initially, it was a pollution issue. The ocean was full of plastic, and many terrestrial areas were also full of plastic. Then, over time, scientific research identified that these plastics, through the movement of water and waves, break down into small particles that can range from slightly larger particles to very, very small particles that are microscopic and that we do not see in the water. Many of these settle on the ocean floor, and others are consumed by fish and filter-feeding animals. These plastics also contain chemical contaminants.
"It is necessary to reach an international treaty to end plastic pollution because it affects the health of ocean ecosystems and other ecosystems, but also affects human health."
This problem became a health issue, not only the health of the oceans but also human health. Today, there are scientific studies that identify the presence of microplastics in people's blood, in tissues such as the brain, or even in breast milk because we ingest them, and our bodies are not capable of excreting and removing them from the organism. Additionally, many of the contaminants in these microplastics are endocrine disruptors that cause health problems in both humans and animals. Filter-feeding animals consume these microplastics; thinking they are satiated, they stop eating their food and end up dying. We have seen these images of dead whales with stomachs full of plastics and other waste. It is necessary to reach an international treaty to end plastic pollution because it affects the health of ocean ecosystems and other ecosystems, but also affects human health.
In events like the recent wildfires in a coastal city like Valparaíso, how can a country use its resources to address these challenges?
The recent fires in the Valparaíso region are a brutal reminder of the consequences of climate change, such as increased heatwaves and the megadrought that has been affecting Chile for over a decade. These phenomena exacerbate the risks and intensity of forest fires. In response to this, strategies such as desalination of seawater have been considered as adaptation measures to address water scarcity. However, beyond desalination, we need to rethink our land management and conservation practices. For example, integrating native vegetation into plantations can serve as firebreaks and help reduce landscape flammability.
Full interview: https://youtu.be/6i0g5wHJ2_Y
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