Marine Reserve in Chile would benefit penguins and ecotourism

The penguin colony at Puñihuil Islands, southern Chile, is the only known place where hundreds of Magellanic (Spheniscus magellanicus) and Humboldt (Spheniscus humboldti) penguins nest together. Current jurisdictional limitations leave the waters around the colony unprotected, and penguins are vulnerable to accidental drowning in gillnets. Ecotourism is an important industry for the small community nearby, but residents are frustrated that there is no mechanism to protect penguins and ecotourism. Designation of a Marine Reserve, with a participatory management plan crossing institutional boundaries, could offer protection to both wildlife and human livelihoods, and serve as a model for protecting natural capital.