A new neoliberal fishing law and the rights of small-scale fishing communities in Chile

Both the civil and military dictatorship of 1973-1990 and subsequent civilian governments made several attempts to privatize Chile’s valuable fisheries. They failed due to the resistance of citizens’ organizations and coastal communities. However, the imposition of the neoliberal fishing export model succeeded through a corrupt parliamentary negotiation between the then minister of the economy, government officials, politicians and some artisanal fishing leaders, who privatized Chilean fisheries through the enactment of a law in January 2013. This flawed legislation handed over the ownership of fisheries for free— and in perpetuity—to seven Chilean business clans and transnational companies.

But, two revitalizing dynamics have emerged: The 437% increase in the participation of women in the artisanal sector, who show great dynamism and greater adaptability to new scenarios. There are currently 22,063 women (24% of all artisanal fishermen) who are boat owners, fisherwomen, divers, seaweed and mollusk gatherers, fish smokers, put bait on fishing hooks, or work in marine farming, services, and tourism.

In addition, there is a growing development of small-scale aquaculture activities linked to the production of macroalgae, mollusks and bivalves. There are currently 714 owners of 800 cultivation centers, whose production is destined for local markets or intermediaries.

The unprecedented parliamentary annulment of the flawed fisheries and aquaculture law

In an unprecedented event in Chilean history, in September 2022 the Maritime Interests and Aquaculture Commission of the Chamber of Deputies declared law 20657 on fishing and aquaculture «undeniably null and void» (2). This decision responded to a decade of sustained struggle by citizen organizations and coastal communities, which had previously led to the conviction of parliamentarians for bribery.

Small-scale fishing communities in Chile are up in arms against the imposition of a new fisheries law and the neoliberal paradigm