Indigenous communities and government unite to restore chile’s endangered choro mussels through traditional knowledge and conservation

In the pristine waters of southern Chile’s Huellelhue River estuary, an remarkable conservation success story is unfolding through an unprecedented partnership between Indigenous communities and government scientists. The Huellelhue, whose name means “place for swimming” in the Mapuche language Mapudungun, flows through the Lafken Mapu Lahual Multiple-Use Conservation Area in the Los Lagos region, where it has served as home to natural beds of the choro mussel for countless generations.

The choro mussel (Choromytilus chorus), a large native mollusk found along the coasts of Chile and Peru, holds profound cultural significance for three Indigenous communities—Caleta Huellelhue, Lonko Milef, and Nirehue—who have depended on this species as part of their ancestral food heritage. However, decades of intensive harvesting by both local divers and outsiders drove the population to alarming lows, threatening both the species and the communities’ traditional way of life.

Recognizing the crisis, Indigenous leaders took action in 2018, calling on Chile’s Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SUBPESCA) to implement emergency protective measures. Their advocacy proved successful when authorities established the first harvesting ban in 2019. The results have been dramatic—natural mussel beds in the area have experienced substantial growth, signaling a promising recovery for this emblematic species.

This collaboration represents a powerful example of how Indigenous traditional knowledge, combined with modern conservation science, can effectively protect threatened marine ecosystems while honoring cultural heritage and supporting local communities.