On March 27th, Chilean artisanal fishermen escalate protests in response to a new law governing fishing. Protestors clashed with police and the Chilean Navy resulting in the arrest of several protestors.
[PROTEST]
Artisanal fishermen across Chile have ramped up their protests in response to the Ley de Fraccionamiento de Pesca (Fishing Quota Law), which they argue disproportionately benefits industrial fishing. On March 27, fishermen blocked the Port of Valparaíso, halting vital maritime traffic. In response, the Chilean Navy used rubber bullets, leaving three fishermen injured. Four individuals were arrested in the aftermath of the protest.
Protests have also intensified in regions like Maule and Coquimbo, where demonstrators have blocked roads, engaged in violent clashes with police, and caused significant disruptions. The protests focus on the delay in the approval of the fishing quotas, a system the fishermen see as a way to delay their access to a fair share of the fishery resources.
On March 31, three protesters were placed under pretrial detention after violent clashes with police. The damage to police vehicles was valued at over 400 million pesos, with protesters using Molotov cocktails and other makeshift weapons.
Despite harsh repression, fishermen have pledged to continue their demonstrations until the government meets their demands for a fairer distribution of fishing quotas.
Works cited
Ex-Ante. "Pescadores artesanales radicalizan protestas, bloquean por mar la descarga de contenedores e intentan abordar lancha de la Policía Marítima." https://www.ex-ante.cl/pescadores-artesanales-radicalizan-protestas-bloquean-por-mar-la-descarga-de-contenedores-e-intentan-abordar-lancha-de-la-policia-maritima/
Interferencia. "Pesca: manifestaciones se extienden en tres regiones del país buscando agilizar debate por nueva legislación. https://interferencia.cl/articulos/pesca-manifestaciones-se-extienden-en-tres-regiones-del-pais-buscando-agilizar-debate-por
La Tercera. "Nueva protesta por Ley de Fraccionamiento: pescadores bloquean el paso a embarcaciones y emplazan al gobierno." https://www.latercera.com/nacional/noticia/nueva-protesta-por-ley-de-fraccionamiento-pescadores-bloquean-el-paso-a-embarcaciones-y-emplazan-al-gobierno/La
La Izquierda Diario. "La Armada dispara contra pescadores en protesta por nueva Ley de pesca." https://www.laizquierdadiario.cl/La-Armada-dispara-contra-pescadores-en-protesta-por-nueva-Ley-de-pesca
BioBioChile. "Confirman prisión preventiva para 3 imputados tras protestas de pescadores artesanales en Ruta 5 Sur." https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/region-del-maule/2025/03/31/confirman-prision-preventiva-para-3-imputados-tras-protestas-de-pescadores-artesanales-en-ruta-5-sur.shtml