The Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca) announced on March 13 that its annual report found 60 percent of Chile’s fisheries with updated status are considered healthy, based on data from the previous year.
This report is significant as it provides an overview of the state of national fisheries and highlights regulatory changes affecting both industrial and artisanal sectors. The findings help inform policy decisions aimed at sustainable management and equitable resource distribution.
According to the report, out of 25 fisheries with current status information, two are underexploited, thirteen are fully exploited, six are overexploited, and four are depleted—though three lack new data. Notably, two fisheries improved their classification compared to last year: anchoveta in Arica y Parinacota–Antofagasta moved from overexploited to fully exploited, while yellow shrimp in Valparaíso–Biobío shifted from underexploited to fully exploited. The golden conger fishery (Valparaíso–Los Ríos) was also newly included due to biogeographical management considerations.
The document states there are now 37 Management Committees nationwide, some undergoing member renewal. There are also 23 promulgated Management Plans in operation. To minimize environmental impacts from fishing activities, eleven Discard Reduction and Incidental Catch Plans have been implemented across various types of fisheries.
A key update in this edition is the inclusion of information about the implementation of Law No. 21.752 on quota fractioning between artisanal and industrial sectors. Published in June 2025 and effective January 2026, this law sets a new framework for distributing catch quotas among sectors based on technical recommendations aimed at achieving or maintaining maximum sustainable yield.
To facilitate these changes, Subpesca modified the National List of Fisheries in 2025 by introducing exceptional update rules intended solely for executing Law No. 21.752. These measures aim to optimize operational capacity for small-scale artisanal fleets, promote productive diversification, reduce discards, and strengthen supply for human consumption.
