Chile took a key step in marine conservation by announcing the expansion of two of its main oceanic national parks. The measure, revealed during the United Nations Oceans Conference in Nice, raises the percentage of its jurisdictional waters under ecological protection to 54%.
The Juan Fernández Sea National Park and the Nazca-Desventuradas Park will see their boundaries expanded to include vulnerable areas within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that currently lack environmental protection.
These areas are not only habitats for endemic and migratory species, but also key reproduction and feeding grounds for fish such as tuna and horse mackerel. Their conservation is crucial to maintain ecological balance and support responsible fishing activities.
The Chilean government will begin the formal evaluation process to finalize the expansion, an advancement driven by science, local commitment, and climate urgency.
Chile announced the expansion of two of its oceanic national parks. Photo: Ladera Sur.
An initiative born in the heart of the ocean
The proposal to expand protected areas was not imposed from the capital, but emerged from the island communities themselves. The inhabitants of Juan Fernández and the Desventuradas Islands have been promoting sustainable fishing practices for decades, recognizing the fragility of their marine ecosystem from past generations.
This process involved participatory instances, traditional knowledge, and technical support. The goal was clear: to complete the conservation framework throughout the sea surrounding the archipelagos and to add a biological corridor between both areas.
Thanks to the United Nations-led High Seas Treaty, which allows safeguarding areas beyond national waters, new possibilities arise to connect and expand oceanic protection beyond conventional boundaries.
Community legacy and global challenge
Chile has positioned itself as a regional benchmark in marine conservation. The coordinated work between successive governments and the local fishing community shows that protecting the sea is not only possible, but desirable.
The artisanal fishermen of Juan Fernández were pioneers in implementing measures such as minimum sizes and voluntary fishing bans, long before national legislation existed. Today, that legacy becomes state policy.
The challenge ahead will be to ensure that this expansion does not remain only on paper. Resources, monitoring, governance, and continuity are needed for this model to be sustainable and replicable. Chile demonstrates that caring for the ocean is not just about preserving a landscape: it is about defending a way of life and a sustainable future.
Chile expands two of its main oceanic national parks. Photo: Ladera Sur.
The marine species Chile seeks to protect
With the expansion of marine protected areas in Juan Fernández and Nazca-Desventuradas, Chile aims to safeguard a unique diversity of species. Among the most emblematic are the two-haired sea lion, endemic to the archipelago, and the mako sharks, key to the balance of oceanic food chains.
Also included are highly migratory species such as tuna and horse mackerel, crucial for national fishing, and larval organisms like the Juan Fernández lobster, whose reproductive cycle depends on the good condition of these ecosystems.
Additionally, these waters are transit and breeding areas for a wide variety of seabirds, cetaceans, and pelagic fish, all dependent on healthy habitats for their survival. Protecting these spaces ensures that marine life continues to be an essential part of Chile’s natural heritage.
