President Boric submits new fishing bill
The bill is the result of an intense participatory process through dialogues with various stakeholders from areas such as artisanal fishing, industrial fishing, women dedicated to related activities, processing plant workers, scientists, and academics.
This morning, President Boric submitted a new fishing bill that aims to amend the current law, which has been legally proven to be of corrupt origin.
The new fishing bill will boost transparency in the sector, elevating standards and eliminating corruption.
This new law will increase equity, improving the distribution of quotas between artisanal and industrial fishing.
The new fishing law, which is subject to approval in Congress, also aims to promote the development of sustainable fishing and advance in science and innovation, addressing the concerns of all stakeholders in order to take care of the ocean and people.
More than 200 meetings were held with various stakeholders (artisanal fishing, industrial fishing, women dedicated to related activities, processing plant workers, academics, scientists, etc.) in fishing villages throughout the country, in which more than 6,000 people participated.
What does the new fishing bill involve?
The new fishing bill proposed by President Boric is based on three pillars:
Transparency in the fishing industry
Increasing transparency in the fishing industry will facilitate progress on the eradication of illicit practices, limiting the ability of those responsible to evade detection and ensuring the immediate implementation of corrective measures to address these issues.
Transparency in the fishing industry will be increased not only from the perspective of state administration through the disclosure of information, but also in relation to fishing operations as a whole and the traceability of seafood products from capture to point of sale, ensuring that processes and transactions are sustainable and fair.
Scientific investigation also faces challenges in terms of transparency, especially as current regulations grant this sector special precedence in fishing administration decisions.
Equity
Increasing equity in the fishing industry will not only improve the quality of life of those who work in the sector, but will also contribute to marine ecosystem conservation and the responsible use of resources.
It’s essential to promote equity throughout the fishing industry, from intergenerational equity to equity in the distribution of resources between artisanal and industrial fishing, between regions, and between individuals.
Intergenerational equity enables the sustainable use of hydrobiological resources and marine and coastal ecosystems through appropriate conservation and environmental protection measures.
Guaranteeing territorial equity is also crucial, as this ensures fair treatment for all fishing villages and their communities throughout the country, as well as equity in social protection conditions for artisanal fishing.
Finally, it is important to focus on gender equity, acknowledging and valuing the essential role that women play in the fishing industry and its value chain.
Sustainable development of the fishing industry
Only through sustainable fishing practices is it possible to ensure the continuous and balanced development of the sector.
This requires responsible use of marine resources, balancing the need for economic growth with the need for environmental conservation and social wellbeing, and guaranteeing the food supply.
To ensure a sustainable future for the fishing industry, it is essential for the State to strengthen the sector’s regulation and monitoring.
What is the problem with the current fishing law?
The current General Law on Fishing and Agriculture has been subject to ongoing questions by industry stakeholders, especially artisanal fishing.
These concerns regarding the current fishing law are due to the undue and illegal intervention of industrial fishing stakeholders during its legislative processing.