Seaweed research and utilization in Chile: moving into a new phase

Abstract

Two phases have been distinguished classically in the history of Latin American phycological research: the explorer phase characterized by the taxonomic work of mainly European and North American scientists, and the diversification phase marked by the establishment of resident scientists in the area and the training of a new generation of phycologists in subjects other than taxonomy. Over the last 15 years, Chile has entered a third phase, characterized by a significant increase in scientific and economic activity centered around seaweeds. Seaweed cultivation has been commercialized; raw materials are now locally processed and economic returns have more than tripled. In addition, some groups of opportunistic seaweed gatherers have become farmers. Loosely correlated with the above developments has been a significant increase in the number of scientific and technological studies related to seaweeds, in the number of professional phycologists and in the specialization of the various groups. This study first describes these new developments and the conceptual advances achieved in farming and resource management. It also emphasizes some socio-economic differences with seaweed farming in other countries and explores the level of interaction between the local scientific and productive sectors in view of future developments.