INoticias.CL | «No to Copiaport-E!»: Concerns Raised Over Mega Industrial Project Threatening Marine Ecosystem and Atacama Communities

Chascos Bay at Risk: Mega Industrial Project Threatens Marine Ecosystem and Atacama Communities

«Chascos Bay must be protected.» This was the warning issued by Environmental Defense NGO via their social media platforms, highlighting that the mega port and industrial project Copiaport-E poses a threat to a marine ecosystem of significant ecological and cultural value in the Atacama region.

According to the organization, the area supports exceptional biodiversity, including: green turtles, Humboldt penguins, whales, dolphins, and one of the last seagrass meadows in Chile. “This corner of the Atacama coastline is home to species that are integral to the history, identity, and livelihoods of the communities that have protected it for generations,” the NGO stated.

The Copiaport-E project involves the construction of large-scale infrastructure, including «dredging of the bay, increased maritime traffic, underwater noise, artificial lighting, and ongoing industrial activity,» detailed the organization. These interventions, they warned, would adversely affect both wildlife and coastal ecosystems.

The NGO emphasized that defending the territory goes beyond protecting individual species: «It’s not just about safeguarding species; it’s about protecting an entire ecosystem and the relationship communities have maintained with it for centuries.» The organization called on citizens to learn about the conflict, share information, and join in protecting the bay.

With the slogan «No to Copiaport-E!», Environmental Defense aims to highlight the threat to Chascos Bay, warning that industrial intervention would devastate the area’s natural heritage. The organization reiterated that the value of the area transcends ecological concerns, being tied to the identity and livelihood of local communities.

This outcry comes within a broader context of rising concerns over the expansion of port infrastructure in environmentally sensitive areas. The NGO urged action: “Understand this conflict, share this information, and help us defend one of the most valuable marine ecosystems along the Atacama coast.”

Check out Environmental Defense’s post on Instagram