The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) in the Los Ríos region is set to modernize its monitoring and enforcement capabilities with new technology and vehicles, aiming to intensify efforts against illegal fishing in freshwater bodies. The initiative, unanimously approved by the Regional Council, is financed by the Regional Government of Los Ríos.
A ceremony at Casa Prochelle II marked the start of the project titled “Acquisition of Equipment for Monitoring Illegal Fishing, Los Ríos Region.” The project will provide Sernapesca with a range of equipment including radios, cameras, tactical flashlights, drones, thermal vision monoculars, notebooks, hard drives, smart TVs for video monitoring, a pickup truck, a boat, and a trailer. The investment totals 181 million Chilean pesos.
These resources are expected to strengthen inspections targeting illegal fishing activities in rivers and lakes throughout the region. Enhanced surveillance aims to support conservation efforts in state-protected wilderness areas and other priority biodiversity sites.
Acting Regional Governor Marila Barrientos said: “This project aligns fully with our regional strategy as it contributes to biodiversity protection and also strengthens formalization processes in recreational fishing—a sector that has significant impact on the local economy. We are very pleased to implement this initiative which reflects partnership and joint work with Sernapesca at the national level. We deeply value this collaboration and hope that implementing this equipment will strengthen inspection tasks and have a positive direct impact on our region’s development.”
Soledad Tapia, National Director of Sernapesca added: “We are grateful to the Regional Government of Los Ríos because this project provides us with technological tools so our staff can better carry out their inspection duties. Illegal fishing has become one form of organized crime development; therefore it is important to have technology, qualified personnel, inter-institutional cooperation—and recognition from both the Regional Government of Los Ríos and all those who have supported us here: regional councilors. If we work together with other institutions we will achieve better results—and we have had them; here in Los Ríos we’ve had historic seizures over the last two years as part of efforts against organized crime.”
The initiative seeks not only stricter enforcement but also increased protection for recreational fishing—an activity vital for local tourism. Fishing using nets in inland waters is classified as a crime linked increasingly to organized criminal groups. Authorities say inter-agency cooperation is key to addressing these challenges.
Alejandra Vásquez from the Ministry of Economy said: “We are very happy from the Ministry because this goes exactly along what President Gabriel Boric has asked us—to work together across different services and find ways to tackle organized crime. This will be a blow against organized crime developing here in our region since illegal fishing is part of it.”
The new equipment will help Sernapesca detect illegal activities such as net installations in rivers, wetlands or lake mouths—providing essential information for coordinated enforcement operations involving Sernapesca alongside Carabineros de Chile and Armada de Chile. Officials believe greater oversight will benefit tourism by increasing safety for those engaging in recreational activities where these offenses occur.
