Chinese Fishing Fleet Raises Alarm Over Illegal Fishing and Ecosystem Disruption in Chile

As of October 11th, 2025, a significant Chinese fishing fleet has been operating just outside Chile's Exclusive Economic Zone, raising alarms among small-scale fishermen and maritime authorities. The presence of these vessels has led to a sharp decline in the catches of Humboldt squid, one of the most valuable resources for local fisheries in the region.

According to reports, the Chinese ships are disrupting the natural migration of the Humboldt squid towards the Chilean coast. A leader of the Iquique Fishermen's Federation stated that they have not seen any Humboldt squid for the past three months, describing the Chinese boats as "termites in the ecosystem."

The Chilean Navy has detected around 66 vessels off the coast of Iquique and more than 160 in transit between Arica and the northern border, all operating outside Chile's 200-nautical-mile exclusive limit. While the Maritime Authority claims no illegal fishing activity has been confirmed within Chile's Exclusive Economic Zone, fishermen's unions are demanding stronger offshore surveillance and continuous monitoring of foreign vessels.

Authorities have reported that as of September 30th, 2025, port officials had received 157 docking requests from foreign vessels, approving 139 and rejecting 18 for failing to meet requirements. However, fishermen argue that the Navy and the National Fisheries Service (Sernapesca) lack the resources to effectively oversee a fleet of more than 150 ships constantly moving in the area.