Chile
Our work
Global Fishing Watch is supporting Chile’s efforts to ensure the responsible use of marine resources and cement its role as a leading advocate for transparent fisheries practices across the region.
To do this, we work with a diverse group of government officials to embed transparency as a fundamental principle in the country’s domestic regulations around oceans and fisheries. We also help Chile put transparency into practice by supporting the monitoring of maritime activities, providing the navy with fisheries intelligence and analysis and strengthening local capacity.Â
Our collaboration began in 2019 when Chile’s National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service, or Sernapesca, agreed to make its vessel tracking data publicly available on the Global Fishing Watch map. Since then, the relationship has strengthened and the nature of work has evolved— we now interact with various government agencies not only to operationalize transparency efforts but also to develop local capacity to embed our cutting-edge technology and improve internal tools and processes to meet domestic goals on fisheries management.Â
As Chile expands both its regional and international influence, it is setting a new standard in vessel tracking and helping to normalize the sharing of ocean data more broadly.Â
Over the coming years, we will continue to harness innovative technologies and data analytics to further enhance Chile’s ability to promote ocean governance, combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and support its international commitments.Â
Highlights
Our work encompasses collaborations with a range of in-country stakeholders, including Sernapesca, the Undersecretariat for Fishing and Aquaculture, the Navy, the Fisheries Development Institute and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Policy support: Embedding transparency into law
Global Fishing Watch is advocating for and supporting the Undersecretariat for Fishing and Aquaculture in drafting a new national fishing law that emphasizes transparency and includes enhanced measures around vessel identification, registration, authorizations and ownership.
Vessel tracking: Making vessels publicly visible
Since March 2020, over 2,200 vessels from Chile’s industrial and artisanal fleets, including transport and aquaculture vessels, have been visible on the Global Fishing Watch map. This data transparency is pivotal for monitoring and managing Chile's extensive marine resources, including key fisheries like anchovy, sardine, jack mackerel, horse mackerel, pippin and hake.
Vessel information: Completing the picture of vessel activity
In February 2023, Chile renewed its memorandum of understanding with Global Fishing Watch, expanding data sharing beyond vessel tracking to include catch data, logbooks and other vital information. This critical step further reinforced Chile’s commitment to transparency and better fisheries management.
Operational support: Strengthening national surveillance
Global Fishing Watch assists the Chilean Navy with fisheries intelligence to better inform pre-patrol activities and target enforcement actions. Our partnership has provided Sernapesca with multiple reports on fishing activity, including species-specific assessments and foreign fleet activity, particularly around Chinese squid vessels hovering at the border of Chile’s exclusive economic zone.
Marine protection: Supporting effective conservation
Through the use of Marine Manager, we will support the Chilean Government in establishing and managing at least one marine protected area, including identifying prime locations and informing an effective management strategy.
Capacity development: Adopting technology
Through in-person training and tailored demonstrations, we prepare government officers to harness the power of our technological platform. Chile receives customized support under our capacity development and technology transfer efforts, which are designed to meet the country's specific needs.
About Chile
With its vast coastline, Chile is a major force in global fisheries, renowned for its rich marine biodiversity and economic reliance on the sea. The country’s deep-rooted connection with the ocean has long driven a proactive stance in managing its marine resources.
In demonstration of these efforts, Chile is transitioning to a sustainable, science-based fisheries management model, supported by an extensive network of marine protected areas to protect biodiversity and fish stocks. Our collaboration seeks to showcase how greater transparency and open data can accelerate this transformation.
Chile’s growing involvement in the implementation of the Agreement for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, or BBNJ Agreement, and its leadership in regional bodies like the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation further demonstrate its commitment to making positive change. With a focus on open data and a determination to leverage technology for sustainable ocean governance, Chile is setting a new global benchmark in responsible fisheries management, serving as a model for Latin America and beyond.