Artisanal fishing communities from north to south are denouncing the presence of a foreign fleet, mostly composed of Chinese ships, allegedly operating illegally within Chilean waters.
The fishermen claim that the jumbo squid disappeared from the coasts more than three months ago, coinciding with the massive arrival of these vessels which, according to their records, have already crossed the 200 nautical miles that delimit the Chilean Exclusive Economic Zone.
Fear is spreading through the ports of Coquimbo, Valparaíso, and Iquique, where protests have erupted demanding more rigorous oversight. They claim that neither the Navy nor the National Fisheries Service (Sernapesca) have sufficient resources to continuously monitor the movement of this fleet.
In recent weeks, the situation has become more tense: the lights of the squid jigger boats on the high seas attract the jumbo squid into their nets, preventing the resource from reaching the coastal areas where artisanal fishing takes place.
An ocean in dispute
Chilean authorities acknowledge the presence of 166 foreign vessels off the northern coast of the country, but claim that all are outside the national maritime boundary. However, the gap between local perception and official reports has raised a greater alert: the lack of effective control over the movement of industrial fleets in the South Pacific.
The so-called Chinese squid jigger fleet —specialized in catching red squid— travels thousands of kilometers each year from the central Pacific to the Atlantic, operating near the exclusive economic zones of various Latin American countries. These vessels travel in compact groups, constantly change positions, and remain active day and night thanks to massive lighting systems that alter the behavior of marine species.
International organizations warn that, although many of these operations are registered as legal, the line between regulated fishing and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is increasingly blurred. The lack of constant oversight allows for undetected incursions and the overexploitation of species that sustain local food chains.
Environmental and social impact
The disappearance of the jumbo squid not only threatens the economy of Chilean fishing villages. This cephalopod plays an essential ecological role: it is prey for swordfish, sharks, sea lions, and coastal birds. Its decline can cause cascading effects throughout the marine ecosystem.
Moreover, intensive capture with industrial jiggers —equipment that uses powerful lights to attract squid— generates light pollution, alters the feeding and reproduction rhythms of species, and disrupts the balance of the marine environment.
Additionally, there is the risk that foreign vessels may discharge waste into the sea, increasing pollution from hydrocarbons and plastics. Ocean currents carry these residues to the coasts, affecting habitats of corals, juvenile fish, and mollusks.
The loss of the jumbo squid also translates into an economic blow for hundreds of families who depend on its capture. The artisanal fishing communities, already pressured by the climate crisis and the decline of other resources, now face the direct threat of foreign industrial fishing.
China and global fishing expansion
China has the largest distant-water fishing fleet in the world, with more than 3,000 vessels active outside its waters. This global fishing network extends across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans, and has been highlighted in multiple international reports for overfishing practices, evasion of regulations, and operations in protected areas.
The Asian country justifies its expansion as a food and economic necessity, but its industrialized model exerts unsustainable pressure on marine ecosystems. The lack of transparency in satellite records, the use of flags of convenience, and limited international cooperation hinder oversight.
Chile, along with Peru, Ecuador, and Argentina, forms part of the corridor most affected by this activity. In this region, foreign fleets concentrate at the edge of the 200 nautical miles, taking advantage of migratory resources that cross between international and territorial waters.
Without a coordinated strategy among countries and international organizations, illegal fishing and the predation of key species will continue to jeopardize the health of the oceans and the food security of millions of people.
A call for ecological vigilance
The jumbo squid crisis is not just an economic or diplomatic issue: it is a symptom of the deterioration of global marine governance. Overfishing, pollution, and climate change are transforming the oceans into arenas of excessive competition for increasingly scarce resources.
The Chilean artisanal fishermen, by raising their voices, demand more than economic protection: they call for active defense of the marine ecosystem that sustains them. The future of the Pacific —and those who live off it— depends on states assuming vigilance as an environmental and sovereign priority.
