To the important ecological value of the Ojos de Mar wetland and the mouth of the Maipo River, is added its cultural relevance for indigenous peoples, who place various ceremonies and celebrations in this wetland system. Such is the case of the Calaucán association"), a Mapuche-Lafkenche organization that is dedicated to the vindication and revitalization of the Lafkenche worldview in this threatened territory.[1]​.

This place also has a high archaeological value due to the ancient presence of the Bato, Llolleo and Aconcagua peoples.[1]​[11]​.

On the northern bank of the Maipo River is the Caleta de Pescadores Boca del Río Maipo, the oldest in the commune of San Antonio "San Antonio (commune)"). [12]​This site stands out for being one of the few places on the coast of Chile where the art of chinchorro fishing and net mending are still practiced, traditions that date back to the Aconcagua culture (900-1470 AD) and previous cultures, dating back approximately 7,000 years. [12]​On September 25, 2024, the San Antonio Municipal Council unanimously approved the Declaration of Communal Intangible Cultural Heritage for Chinchorro Fishing and its Arts in the Mouth of the Maipo River, marking an important step to protect and disseminate this important tradition.[13]​.

The Exterior Port project of the San Antonio Port Company (EPSA) entered the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA) in April 2020.[1] That same year, various organizations, academics and local actors requested the early termination of the procedure, arguing that the environmental impact study presented by the company did not meet the minimum standards and lacked essential information for a complete environmental assessment.[14] However, the Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) did not accepted this request.

In January 2021, the project received more than 3,000 observations during the first Citizen Participation process (CAP), becoming one of the investment projects with the most requests for clarification, rectification and expansion of background information in Chile.[15]​ A second citizen participation process, completed in January 2023, yielded more than 2,000 additional observations.[16]​.

To date, the company has submitted two reports with modifications, and in April 2023 the SEA of the Valparaíso Region accepted EPSA's request to extend the evaluation period until December 2024, allowing the company to respond to nearly 1,000 observations and queries made by state agencies and the SEA itself.[1]​.

At the same time, in January 2021, under pressure from community action, the Municipality of San Antonio "San Antonio (Chile)") requested the recognition of the Ojos de Mar wetland as an Urban Wetland under Law 21,202 "Urban Wetlands Law (Chile)"), seeking to protect 47.1 hectares that included the three lagoons, dunes and Llolleo Beach.[1]​ However, in September of that year, the Ministry of the Environment "Ministerio del Medio Ambiente (Chile)") rejected the request, arguing that the municipalities do not have jurisdiction over ownership of port infrastructure, given that the wetland is located on EPSA land.[1]​ In November, both the organized community and the Municipality of San Antonio presented appeals before the Second Environmental Court,[1]​ which led to the integration of EPSA in the process. In January 2022, the Court issued precautionary measures to prohibit any intervention in the Llolleo lagoons and, in July, the parties agreed to suspend the hearings to begin a conciliation process.[17]​ This process, which included meetings and a site visit, ended in November 2023 with a historic agreement, being the first time that a conciliation was approved in this type of case.[17]​ The agreement contemplated the recognition of the wetland, the creation of a management committee and the commitment of EPSA to finance studies and support ecosystem conservation actions. In addition, the Ministry of the Environment "Ministerio del Medio Ambiente (Chile)") revoked the initial resolution and scheduled a new technical analysis for the recognition of the wetland.[17]​.

Finally, on April 26, 2024, the Ojos de Mar wetland was officially declared an Urban Wetland by the Ministry of the Environment "Ministerio del Medio Ambiente (Chile)"), protecting an approximate area of ​​18.4 hectares.[3]​ Despite this progress, the local community remains concerned about the impacts of the Puerto Exterior project, which continues under environmental evaluation and whose development is considered of national interest to increase the competitiveness of Chilean foreign trade.[4]​.

To the important ecological value of the Ojos de Mar wetland and the mouth of the Maipo River, is added its cultural relevance for indigenous peoples, who place various ceremonies and celebrations in this wetland system. Such is the case of the Calaucán association"), a Mapuche-Lafkenche organization that is dedicated to the vindication and revitalization of the Lafkenche worldview in this threatened territory.[1]​.

This place also has a high archaeological value due to the ancient presence of the Bato, Llolleo and Aconcagua peoples.[1]​[11]​.

On the northern bank of the Maipo River is the Caleta de Pescadores Boca del Río Maipo, the oldest in the commune of San Antonio "San Antonio (commune)"). [12]​This site stands out for being one of the few places on the coast of Chile where the art of chinchorro fishing and net mending are still practiced, traditions that date back to the Aconcagua culture (900-1470 AD) and previous cultures, dating back approximately 7,000 years. [12]​On September 25, 2024, the San Antonio Municipal Council unanimously approved the Declaration of Communal Intangible Cultural Heritage for Chinchorro Fishing and its Arts in the Mouth of the Maipo River, marking an important step to protect and disseminate this important tradition.[13]​.

The Exterior Port project of the San Antonio Port Company (EPSA) entered the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA) in April 2020.[1] That same year, various organizations, academics and local actors requested the early termination of the procedure, arguing that the environmental impact study presented by the company did not meet the minimum standards and lacked essential information for a complete environmental assessment.[14] However, the Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) did not accepted this request.

In January 2021, the project received more than 3,000 observations during the first Citizen Participation process (CAP), becoming one of the investment projects with the most requests for clarification, rectification and expansion of background information in Chile.[15]​ A second citizen participation process, completed in January 2023, yielded more than 2,000 additional observations.[16]​.

To date, the company has submitted two reports with modifications, and in April 2023 the SEA of the Valparaíso Region accepted EPSA's request to extend the evaluation period until December 2024, allowing the company to respond to nearly 1,000 observations and queries made by state agencies and the SEA itself.[1]​.

At the same time, in January 2021, under pressure from community action, the Municipality of San Antonio "San Antonio (Chile)") requested the recognition of the Ojos de Mar wetland as an Urban Wetland under Law 21,202 "Urban Wetlands Law (Chile)"), seeking to protect 47.1 hectares that included the three lagoons, dunes and Llolleo Beach.[1]​ However, in September of that year, the Ministry of the Environment "Ministerio del Medio Ambiente (Chile)") rejected the request, arguing that the municipalities do not have jurisdiction over ownership of port infrastructure, given that the wetland is located on EPSA land.[1]​ In November, both the organized community and the Municipality of San Antonio presented appeals before the Second Environmental Court,[1]​ which led to the integration of EPSA in the process. In January 2022, the Court issued precautionary measures to prohibit any intervention in the Llolleo lagoons and, in July, the parties agreed to suspend the hearings to begin a conciliation process.[17]​ This process, which included meetings and a site visit, ended in November 2023 with a historic agreement, being the first time that a conciliation was approved in this type of case.[17]​ The agreement contemplated the recognition of the wetland, the creation of a management committee and the commitment of EPSA to finance studies and support ecosystem conservation actions. In addition, the Ministry of the Environment "Ministerio del Medio Ambiente (Chile)") revoked the initial resolution and scheduled a new technical analysis for the recognition of the wetland.[17]​.

Finally, on April 26, 2024, the Ojos de Mar wetland was officially declared an Urban Wetland by the Ministry of the Environment "Ministerio del Medio Ambiente (Chile)"), protecting an approximate area of ​​18.4 hectares.[3]​ Despite this progress, the local community remains concerned about the impacts of the Puerto Exterior project, which continues under environmental evaluation and whose development is considered of national interest to increase the competitiveness of Chilean foreign trade.[4]​.