June 30, 2014
Chile Announces New Policy Against Illegal Fishing
During the “Our Ocean” conference held in Washington, D.C. earlier this month, the Chilean government announced a new national policy to fight Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported (IUU) fishing, as well as their commitment to the New York agreement on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks—a move that gives the Chilean Navy increased resources to conduct enforcement operations in the high seas. Oceana welcomes both of Chile’s efforts, as Oceana has been working within the country to fight harmful fishing practices since 2003.
“The efforts to recover fish stocks are worthless if we fail to strongly fight illegal fishing. We are pleased that Chile is implementing this new plan, particularly due to its emphasis on oceanic islands like Juan Fernández, Easter Island and Desventuradas, which, due to their remoteness, are more vulnerable to this threat” Oceana in Chile executive director Alex Muñoz said in a press release.
Because of the new policy and signing of the 1995 Agreement, Chile will now be able to regulate fishing activities more effectively in hopes of sustaining stocks of straddling fish like mackerel—a highly overexploited species whose catches have been reduced by 95 percent in Chile between 1995 and 2013—and migratory fish like tuna and sword fish.
Oceana in Chile works to protect marine habitats, reduce bycatch, prevent the collapse of fish stocks, and reduce marine pollution in South America through a variety of campaigns like preserving marine life and promoting clean energy. Click here to learn more.