Illegal Chinese fishing operations cost Peru’s fishing sector approximately $800 million annually and pose a threat to its natural marine resources, according to a report from the Argentina-based media outlet Infobae.
Each year, numerous illegal Chinese fishing boats navigate Latin American waters, leading to extensive overfishing and clear violations of international maritime laws and local fishing regulations. These vessels often discharge waste into the ocean, contributing to environmental pollution.
This predatory fishing behavior puts endangered species, like the Patagonian greenling, at significant risk. In March 2024, Argentine authorities intercepted a Chinese ship containing 163 tons of illegally obtained hake, valued at around $4 million internationally. That same month, the Argentine Navy boarded another Chinese fishing vessel for attempting to fish unlawfully within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Infobae noted that Peru’s EEZ, which intersects one of the most productive biological zones globally, has increasingly come under pressure from large industrial fishing fleets. Many ships sail near borders without clear regulations in place.
An international study indicated that about 20% of the global fish catch occurs in the Humboldt Current, vital to Peru due to its natural productivity and economic importance for local fisheries.
Experts mentioned that China operates the largest deep-sea fishing fleet in the world, conducting constant operations near Peru’s EEZ. A group advocating for Peru’s marine resources claimed that China’s expansion is driven by a depletion of resources in its own waters, summarizing the situation as “Chinese greedy pirates have emptied their own seas and are now taking over the livelihoods of fishermen from other countries.”
Records from Peru’s fishing organizations revealed that 1,359 vessels operated within 500 nautical miles of Peru throughout 2024. Of these, 525—around 38%—were Chinese, while Ecuador contributed 370 ships and Peru itself had 239. This significant discrepancy is attributed to differences in “ship volume and industrial capacity.”
Alberto Ego Aguirre, chairman of the Maritime, Ports and Customs Committee of the Lima Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCL), noted that illegal fishing of “pota,” the local term for Humboldt squid, primarily by Chinese-flagged vessels, threatens Peru’s fishing industry and leads to approximately $800 million in annual losses.
If you consider the 500,000 tons taken by foreign vessels, Aguirre explained, this translates to a final product of about 150,000 tons, resulting in that revenue loss. He pointed out that Chinese vessels are operating without paying any fees or taxes.
Aguirre further mentioned that between 200 and 300 predominantly Chinese vessels frequently operate in the same waters and often encroach within 200 miles of Peru’s EEZ, severely impacting local fishing activities.
The CCL advocates for a stronger governmental response to illegal fishing through enhanced enforcement, vessel confiscation, and suspension of logistics services. Infobae highlighted that similar measures have been adopted in Chile and Argentina, where maritime authorities have immediately seized vessels involved in illegal fishing. Aguirre stressed that inadequate oversight creates unfair competition against local fishermen, who are following strict regulations.
Recent satellite images from Infobae indicated significant movements of Chinese fishing vessels near Peru’s EEZ, aligning with findings from a Peruvian fishing organization questioning the effectiveness of current monitoring practices.
Infobae elaborated that data reveals a substantial mismatch between the presence of foreign fleets and the number of Peruvian vessels permitted to operate in those same waters.
Peru’s fishing unions have expressed that this situation directly affects local fishing activities, as legal fishing for Humboldt squid has become uncertain for thousands of families along Peru’s northern coast. There’s a growing sense of vulnerability among the local fishermen, who feel that the competition is neither fair nor transparent.
Technical experts have pointed out that structural challenges hinder the country’s ability to monitor its maritime space. The absence of a national satellite surveillance system controlled by the state, they noted, allows foreign fleets to enter irregularly.
