Chile closely monitors Chinese fishing boats that local fishermen say are depleting the fisheries and putting their livelihood at risk. File Photo by Adriana Thomasa/EPA
The presence of a large Chinese fishing fleet off northern Chile has raised concerns among small-scale fishermen and maritime authorities amid suspicions of illegal fishing and the depletion of Humboldt squid — one of the most valuable resources for small-scale fisheries in the region.
The Chinese vessels are said to be operating just a few miles from the boundary of Chile’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Their presence has caused a sharp drop in catches in recent months, local fishermen say.
“We haven’t seen any Humboldt squid for three months. These ships are like termites in the ecosystem,” a leader of the Iquique Fishermen’s Federation said in an interview with Radio Biobío. He added that the Chinese boats appear to be disrupting the natural migration of the species toward the coast.
According to a report from the Chilean Navy, about 66 vessels have been detected off Iquique and more than 160 in transit between Arica and the northern border, all operating outside Chile’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive limit.
Rear Adm. Sigfrido Ramírez, director of Maritime Safety and Operations, said the Maritime Authority carries out constant monitoring through satellite, aerial and surface means, adding. “No fishing activity has been confirmed within Chile’s Exclusive Economic Zone.”
According to acting National Fisheries Service (Sernapesca) Director Esteban Donoso, “All foreign vessels docking at Chilean ports are rigorously inspected, with checks on logbooks, cargo and product traceability.”
Authorities reported that as of Sept. 30, port officials had received 157 docking requests from foreign vessels, approving 139 and rejecting 18 for failing to meet requirements.
Donoso added that none of the onboard inspections had found violations of Chilean regulations.
However, fishermen’s unions are demanding stronger offshore surveillance and continuous monitoring of foreign vessels. They argue that neither the Navy nor Sernapesca has sufficient resources to oversee a fleet of more than 150 ships in constant motion.
“We want a government presence, drones and coordination with neighboring countries. This isn’t just about protecting the Humboldt squid — it’s about safeguarding the entire marine ecosystem,” said Iquique fishermen’s leader Luis Tapia as quoted by Radio Cooperativa.
The presence of Chinese fishing vessels near Chile has been reported in previous years, but the current scale is unprecedented. Maritime authorities and international fishing experts say the fleet is targeting Humboldt squid in international waters of the South Pacific, though its proximity to Chile’s coast has intensified complaints.
Fishing organizations warn that the sharp rise in Chinese vessels docking at Chilean ports may be linked to a change in the Asian fleet’s route, as ships shift to Chilean facilities amid tighter inspections in Peru.
The marine conservation group Oceana said in a press release that the number of Chinese fishing vessels arriving at Chilean ports has surged — up 1,628% in less than a year.
The Peruvian organization ArtisOnal reported that, according to data from the public platform Global Fishing Watch, there has been a notable change in the Chinese fleet’s port arrivals in South America.
In 2023 and 2024, Peruvian ports received 155 and 205 Chinese vessels, while Chilean ports recorded only five and seven, respectively. That changed dramatically this year: Chinese vessels stopped calling at Peruvian ports and began docking in Chile, totaling 121 arrivals to date.
“In 2020, several cases were detected in which Asian vessels turned off their automatic identification systems near the edge of Peru’s Exclusive Economic Zone before entering to use Peruvian port services,” said Eloy Aroni, fisheries director at ArtisOnal.
“This led to tighter regulations requiring vessels to carry Peruvian satellite tracking devices, but instead of complying with the rule, the Chinese fleet exploited a legal loophole by requesting emergency entry permits,” Aroni said.
Throughout 2024, Peru’s small-scale fishing sector, which targets Humboldt squid, filed multiple complaints about suspected illegal fishing maneuvers by Chinese vessels. In response, Peruvian authorities tightened entry requirements for access to the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
Aroni said the loophole was closed at the end of 2024, and since then no Chinese vessels have been recorded entering Peruvian waters.
China’s distant-water fishing fleet is among the largest operating in international waters and, in South America, primarily targets Humboldt squid — known as jibia in Chile — spending long periods along the South American coast.
In 2020, Oceana first raised concerns about possible illegal activity by Chinese vessels, reporting that many had turned off their automatic identification system trackers.
Since then, Ecuador, Peru and Chile have maintained monitoring and control systems — pushed by small-scale fishers, local communities and civil society groups — to ensure the fleet does not operate within their exclusive economic zones.
