Political and economic transformations in the 1980s in Chile produced an increase in exports of valuable fishery resources over the last 30–40 years. In order to improve or resolve problems, the state implemented diverse interventions and changes in the administrative and cultural processes in artisanal or small-scale fisheries. Nevertheless, the results were not as expected, and diverse problems become evident. This study tries to explain the failures of state interventions in artisanal fisheries, studying the motivations of small-scale fishers to start, stay or abandon the activity. Based on 473 structured interviews in the Regions of Antofagasta, Atacama and Coquimbo (ca 1800 Km of coast) in Chile, we evidenced that fishers’ main motivation to carry out small-scale fishing, is the way of life it allows, mainly the independence and the dynamic relation with the environment and their fishery resources. This logic does not adjust to the logic of state interventions, which pursue increased production, to serve unlimited international markets with the aim of economic profit. The intention to transform the way of life of fishers will put at risk the global sustainability of the system. The failures of state interventions are understandable and welcome because they should make way to a necessary discussion about policies that favor the conservation of the logic of the way of life of the majority of fishers, that properly adjust to environmental dynamics, leading to a conservative use of fishery resources.

智利 1980 年代的政治和经济转型导致过去 30-40 年宝贵渔业资源的出口增加。为了改善或解决问题，国家在手工或小规模渔业的行政和文化过程中实施了多种干预和改变。然而，结果并不如预期，各种各样的问题变得明显。本研究试图解释国家干预手工渔业的失败，研究小规模渔民开始、停留或放弃活动的动机。根据在智利安托法加斯塔、阿塔卡马和科金博地区（距海岸约 1800 公里）的 473 次结构化访谈，我们证明渔民进行小规模捕鱼的主要动机是其允许的生活方式，主要是与环境及其渔业资源的独立性和动态关系。这种逻辑并不适应国家干预的逻辑，即追求增加生产，以经济利润为目标服务于无限的国际市场。改变渔民生活方式的意图将使该系统的全球可持续性面临风险。国家干预的失败是可以理解和受欢迎的，因为它们应该让位于关于有利于保护大多数渔民生活方式逻辑的政策的必要讨论，这些政策适当地适应环境动态，导致保守的使用渔业资源。追求增加产量，以经济利润为目标服务于无限的国际市场。改变渔民生活方式的意图将使该系统的全球可持续性面临风险。国家干预的失败是可以理解和受欢迎的，因为它们应该让位于关于有利于保护大多数渔民生活方式逻辑的政策的必要讨论，这些政策适当地适应环境动态，导致保守的使用渔业资源。追求增加产量，以经济利润为目标服务于无限的国际市场。改变渔民生活方式的意图将使该系统的全球可持续性面临风险。国家干预的失败是可以理解和受欢迎的，因为它们应该让位于关于有利于保护大多数渔民生活方式逻辑的政策的必要讨论，这些政策适当地适应环境动态，导致保守的使用渔业资源。