Undercover cameras expose illegal discards in Chilean industrial fishing operations
Investigations reveal widespread illegal discards of critically endangered fish species by industrial fishing vessels in Chile, despite mandatory camera monitoring. Legal cases against companies like Empresa Desarrollo Pesquero de Chile SA and Pesca Chile SA highlight systemic issues in enforcement and the devastating impact on marine biodiversity.
Chilean authorities have uncovered illegal discards of critically endangered fish species by industrial fishing vessels, despite mandatory camera monitoring. The *Unzen*, a 92-meter factory ship owned by Empresa Desarrollo Pesquero de Chile SA (controlled by Japanese multinational Nissui), was fined after footage revealed it discarded *Macruronus magellanicus* (merluza de cola), a species declared exhausted by Chile’s Subsecretaría de Pesca. The vessel, equipped with on-board processing facilities, operated in Patagonian waters for 60 days in 2020, with cameras recording its activities as required by law since 2012.
## Widespread illegal discards despite monitoring
Chilean law mandates that all industrial and artisanal fishing vessels over 15 meters must record their operations via onboard cameras. However, the *Servicio Nacional de Pesca y Acuicultura* (Sernapesca) lacks the capacity to review all footage. In the *Unzen* case, only 17 of 174 recorded fishing operations (lances) were reviewed, yet 88% showed illegal discards of merluza de cola. This practice is banned due to its environmental impact-most discarded fish are already dead from injuries or pressure-and its role in distorting catch statistics, leading to overfishing.
Illegal discards allow vessels to maximize profits by retaining only high-value species or avoiding penalties when quotas are exceeded. The *Unzen*’s parent company, Emdepes SA, was fined 321 million pesos (approximately $339,000) in 2025. However, this case is not isolated. Between 2020 and 2025, Sernapesca initiated 23 administrative sanctions against 11 industrial fishing companies, resulting in over $1 million in fines. Another 14 cases were opened between January 2025 and March 2026, with investigations ongoing.
## Legal battles and industry defenses
Two other vessels, the *Unionsur* (also owned by Emdepes) and the *Cabo de Hornos* (Pesca Chile SA), were sanctioned for illegal discards of merluza de cola and merluza del sur off Aysén’s coast. Pesca Chile SA argued that the *Cabo de Hornos* discarded fish due to mechanical damage, as permitted by Sernapesca’s protocols. However, courts rejected this defense, citing evidence that fish were sent directly to the discard belt and harina de pescado (fishmeal) plant without proper weighing.
The Chilean Supreme Court upheld Sernapesca’s sanctions, confirming that the *Cabo de Hornos* failed to record discards accurately in its electronic logbook. The ruling emphasized that the company’s defenses did not disprove the illegal activity.
## Environmental and regulatory challenges
The *Unzen* and other vessels use bottom trawling and mid-water trawling, methods criticized for their lack of selectivity, capturing everything in their path. Illegal discards further undermine conservation efforts, particularly for species like merluza de cola, whose adult populations are below safe limits for reproduction.
While Sernapesca’s enforcement efforts have led to fines, the scale of illegal discards suggests systemic gaps in monitoring and regulation. The agency’s limited capacity to review footage allows violations to go undetected, perpetuating a cycle of overfishing and environmental harm.
