Chile increases port inspections as Chinese fishing fleet shifts logistics
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Chilean authorities have intensified mandatory inspections of Chinese-flagged fishing vessels following a sharp rise in port calls. Sernapesca, the national fisheries and aquaculture service, now reviews navigation histories, satellite tracking, and cargo contents to ensure these vessels do not fish inside Chile’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
The surge in arrivals occurred after China joined the Port State Measures Agreement in April 2025. This international treaty aims to stop illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing by restricting port access for non-compliant vessels.
While Peru implemented strict satellite-tracking requirements that reduced Chinese vessel arrivals to zero in 2025, Chile saw its number of arrivals jump from fewer than 10 to nearly 200 during the same period. Authorities are also scrutinizing the ownership and history of these ships due to past connections to sanctioned companies. In 2025, the state-owned company ASMAR serviced two Chinese vessels linked to a firm sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury for forced labor and illegal fishing.
These incidents have prompted officials to look beyond a ship's physical condition to investigate its parent companies and international sanctions history. Beyond environmental concerns, the presence of the large Chinese fleet raises maritime security issues. Experts suggest the fleet may have dual-use capabilities for surveillance and territorial claims. In response, labor unions are calling for inspections to include the living and working conditions of crews.
Sernapesca plans to use artificial intelligence and new monitoring technologies to improve traceability and regional cooperation against illegal fishing.
