The rise of foreign fleets in the Pacific Ocean, the voracity of fishing with no control and the lack of tangible international regulations have jeopardized the sustainability of the Chilean horse mackerel, the main source of labour for thousands of people in the south of the seaside country. The Chilean Government´s initiatives through the 123 Act, have not been enough to regulate their catches; international collaboration is indispensable.

A significant part of the Chilean catch is closely linked to this pelagic species. According to data provided by Chile´s Subsecretariat of Fisheries, in 2007 it generated sales of canned food, frozen food, fishmeal, fish oil, and chilled food for 505.5 million dollars. There are 11,500 direct jobs in fleets and plants and over 45 thousand indirect jobs that could be affected.

Horse mackerel is a transzonal fish, for which the boundaries of 200 nautical miles that make the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) stop being, in this fishery´s case, a binding regulation.

While the European Commission Committee promotes the "Green Book" for sustainable fishery, the European offshore fleet increases considerably at Chilean shores and leads the lawless capture of horse mackerel.

Proof of this can be found between the years 2003 and 2007, during which the number of foreign vessels increased from 7 to 34, with the greatest rise being between 2007 and 2008. Meanwhile, this fleet´s catch volume increased from 97,018 to 402,708 MT in the same period, according to the General Directorate of the Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine of Chile.

This same institution specifies that from these 34 fishing vessels, 8 hoisted EU flags, 20 belonged to European shipowners and 9 sailed with flags of convenience.

Horse mackerel fishery in the South Pacific, FAO data
Furthermore, in this disloyal competition the only country which has diminished horse mackerel catches has been Chile, by 70,7% between 1995 and 2008. This has caused a decrease of 200 million dollars in Chilean fisheries, as detailed in a study by the Industrial Fishermen Association (Asipes).

The 123 Act

The measures taken by Chile to save the fishing industry are translated to the 123 Act, a legal tool enacted in 2004 to protect the Chilean horse mackerel. It contains a unique article in which it attempts to regulate the logistic, replenishment, and repair tasks of the country´s marine terminals by fishing vessels of a foreign fishing flag offshore. That is to say, the regulations negotiate for the sustainability of fishery resources.

Moreover, Chile has been a pioneer since 2006, due to the reinforcement of a Regional Fishing Organization of the South Pacific, but the negotiations for its construction have been unsuccessful.

Between the next 6 and 10 October a sixth encounter will take place in Australia, of the countries belonging to this geographical region which are interested in participating in this alliance. However, the Chilean Government has warned the past 25 September that if negotiations are unsatisfactory, it will strictly apply the 123 Act.

Chile, a seaside country, is disarmed due to the greed of the catches over the 200 miles. Because of this, there is a need for international agreements that will support the sustainability of marine species. First, there must be a unified control effort, by which the quantity of maritime fleets are limited. A global quota must be established, also known as a Total Allowable Catch (TAC).

Furthermore, the so-called Olympic race must end, as it is unfair for the smaller and less stocked vessels. Also, it is necessary to eliminate the Factory Boats, the foreign ships that are not allowed to operate in their own countries, but do so at Chilean shores.

To summarize, Chile requests that a paragraph in page 25 of the Green Book be abided: "Outside of Europe, the EU continues to develop the promotion of a good maritime governance and responsible fishery around the world. In agreements with third countries there is now a greater priority to foster contribution to the development of the local fishing sector, investment and good maritime governance in our continent”.