A Sea of Struggles, a Sea of Stories: Using narratives to understand environmental conflict in the case of Puerto Natales, Chile

Intensifying climatic events have exacerbated conflicts in coastal regions. These tensions expose flaws in current coastal management systems, including inadequate climate change preparedness and adaptation and the lack of mechanisms that support fair and inclusive governance. Confronting and navigating such conflicts is essential for transformative change and safeguarding the resilience of coastal ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. This thesis argues that actors’ distinct relationships with the sea and each other become crystallised in narratives, exposing points of convergence and friction. Such narratives thus offer valuable insights for the study of conflict and contestation over the use of coastal ecosystems. The thesis investigates narratives from marine users in a case study of a Chilean Patagonian town, where a complex network of water bodies supports diverse ways of life among Kaweskar (Indigenous) communities, artisanal fishers, tourism operators, and the salmon industry. This region has undergone significant social, ecological, and economic changes due to intensifying aquaculture and increasing Marine Protected Areas, leading to territorial conflicts. Drawing on 19 semi-structured interviews and secondary sources, the study applies narrative analysis to examine how these actors relate to the sea, how their perspectives on the use of marine ecosystems conflict and overlap, and their future visions of the place they inhabit. The findings reveal a wide alignment of narratives that utilize the notion of “empty space” to pursue “blue growth” and overcome a perception of isolation. Differences of perspectives about development affect the perceived legitimacy of competing uses of the sea, ultimately marginalizing groups such as artisanal fishers and Kaweskar communities. These results contribute to the growing body of literature that recognizes narrative analysis as a valuable tool for informing coastal management and expand the literature of place-based meanings with a case from the Global South.