Santiago de Chile (AFP) - Artisanal fishermen tried to disrupt port operations in Chile on Thursday, on the third day of a protest to demand an increase in their fishing quotas, authorities said.
Published: 28/03/2025
A Chilean navy ship sprays a boat with protesters, artisanal fishermen, during a protest on March 27 at the port of San Antonio, Chile © CRISTOBAL BASAURE / AFP
The protests, which have left about 20 people injured, most of them police officers, and as many arrested, continued on Thursday in the port of San Antonio, where most of the country's cargo transits.
Protests also took place in the ports of Valparaiso and Quinteros, also located on the central coast of Chile, about 120 km from Santiago.
Artisanal fishermen are demanding the "immediate" approval by Parliament of a bill to increase their fishing quota and reduce that of industrial fishermen. The law, presented in September 2024 by the government of President Gabriel Boric, was approved by the Chamber of Deputies and is currently being examined by the Senate's finance committee.
"The protesters tried to prevent the passage of ships (...) with the aim of blocking port operations," the Chilean navy said in a statement.
In addition, troops were mobilized on fast boats to push back the protesters. Four people were arrested, the navy said in a statement.
No authority has reported a suspension of port activities.
The president of the federation of the Valparaiso region, Miguel Angel Hernandez, told AFP that one of his colleagues had been injured by projectiles fired by the navy.
He also claimed that about 100 boats had tried to block "the passage of industrial ships" in San Antonio.
On Wednesday, clashes with police in several regions of the country left fifteen police officers injured and one demonstrator. A police vehicle was set on fire in the southern region of Maule, during particularly violent demonstrations.
© 2025 AFP
Chile rocked by clashes over fishing quotas
By AFP
March 26, 2025
The Chilean port of Valparaiso was rocked by protests by artisanal fishermen demanding a greater share of the catch quota, particularly for hake - Copyright AFP CRISTOBAL BASAURE
Chilean police fired tear gas and water cannon Wednesday as they battled with hundreds of fishermen who threw stones and burned tires to press for greater catch rights, leaving at least 15 officers and a protester hurt.
Clashes were reported in the port city of Valparaiso, and in the regions of Coquimbo and Maule.
Valparaiso’s police chief General Patricia Vasquez said seven police officers were injured in the standoff, one of whom was hospitalized with serious head wounds.
One among the protesters, who barricaded streets with flaming tires and threw firecrackers, was also hurt. Three were arrested.
Police fired tear gas and used at least three water cannon to disperse the protests, which Vasquez termed “very violent” and lasted several hours.
In the region of Maule, south of the capital Santiago, clashes with police wounded eight officers and led to the arrest of five protesters, officials said.
The demonstrators burnt a police vehicle.
In the Coquimbo region in Chile’s north, fishermen also took to the streets, demanding that congress adopt a bill boosting artisanal fishing rights.
The fishermen blocked the Pan-American Highway, which runs the length of Chile, with burning tires.
The protesters accuse the Senate of holding up the bill, which gives artisanal fishermen a bigger share of the catch quota, particularly of hake.
The bill was adopted by the House of Representatives and is now being examined by the Senate Finance Committee.
Miguel Angel Hernandez, president of the Federation of Artisanal Fishermen of the Valparaiso region, accused the Senate of trying to reduce the artisanal catch allocation.
“What we hope is that the bill is passed immediately,” he told AFP.
The protests, which have left about 20 people injured, most of them police officers, and as many arrested, continued on Thursday in the port of San Antonio, where most of the country's cargo transits.
Protests also took place in the ports of Valparaiso and Quinteros, also located on the central coast of Chile, about 120 km from Santiago.
Artisanal fishermen are demanding the "immediate" approval by Parliament of a bill to increase their fishing quota and reduce that of industrial fishermen. The law, presented in September 2024 by the government of President Gabriel Boric, was approved by the Chamber of Deputies and is currently being examined by the Senate's finance committee.
"The protesters tried to prevent the passage of ships (...) with the aim of blocking port operations," the Chilean navy said in a statement.
In addition, troops were mobilized on fast boats to push back the protesters. Four people were arrested, the navy said in a statement.
No authority has reported a suspension of port activities.
The president of the federation of the Valparaiso region, Miguel Angel Hernandez, told AFP that one of his colleagues had been injured by projectiles fired by the navy.
He also claimed that about 100 boats had tried to block "the passage of industrial ships" in San Antonio.
On Wednesday, clashes with police in several regions of the country left fifteen police officers injured and one demonstrator. A police vehicle was set on fire in the southern region of Maule, during particularly violent demonstrations.
© 2025 AFP
By AFP
March 26, 2025
The Chilean port of Valparaiso was rocked by protests by artisanal fishermen demanding a greater share of the catch quota, particularly for hake - Copyright AFP CRISTOBAL BASAURE
Chilean police fired tear gas and water cannon Wednesday as they battled with hundreds of fishermen who threw stones and burned tires to press for greater catch rights, leaving at least 15 officers and a protester hurt.
Clashes were reported in the port city of Valparaiso, and in the regions of Coquimbo and Maule.
Valparaiso’s police chief General Patricia Vasquez said seven police officers were injured in the standoff, one of whom was hospitalized with serious head wounds.
One among the protesters, who barricaded streets with flaming tires and threw firecrackers, was also hurt. Three were arrested.
Police fired tear gas and used at least three water cannon to disperse the protests, which Vasquez termed “very violent” and lasted several hours.
In the region of Maule, south of the capital Santiago, clashes with police wounded eight officers and led to the arrest of five protesters, officials said.
The demonstrators burnt a police vehicle.
In the Coquimbo region in Chile’s north, fishermen also took to the streets, demanding that congress adopt a bill boosting artisanal fishing rights.
The fishermen blocked the Pan-American Highway, which runs the length of Chile, with burning tires.
The protesters accuse the Senate of holding up the bill, which gives artisanal fishermen a bigger share of the catch quota, particularly of hake.
The bill was adopted by the House of Representatives and is now being examined by the Senate Finance Committee.
Miguel Angel Hernandez, president of the Federation of Artisanal Fishermen of the Valparaiso region, accused the Senate of trying to reduce the artisanal catch allocation.
“What we hope is that the bill is passed immediately,” he told AFP.
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