Chile Implements Two-Month Corvina Fishing Ban to Protect Populations and Promote Sustainable Fisheries

In October 2025, Chile’s National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) announced the implementation of a nationwide fishing ban on corvina. The ban, which runs from October to the end of November (a two-month period), aims primarily to protect corvina populations during their breeding season and advance the sustainable development of fisheries.

This ban is not a temporary measure but a seasonal conservation policy formulated by Sernapesca a decade ago, specifically targeting corvina’s spawning period. The control measures cover the entire supply chain: they not only prohibit fishing (including artisanal fishing and recreational angling) but also ban the sale, transportation, processing, preparation, and storage of corvina, cutting off channels for illegal circulation.

Chilean corvina is mainly distributed in the waters off the Región del Maule, Región del Biobío, Región de Los Ríos, and Región de la Araucanía. It is primarily caught through artisanal methods and supplied to the domestic market, with strong demand in recreational angling. At present, Chile has not set a minimum catch size or fishing quota for corvina, making the seasonal fishing ban the only effective measure to protect this species and prevent population decline caused by fishing during its breeding season.

For enforcement, Sernapesca will step up inspections in areas with intensive fishing activities, such as fishing ports and seafood sales centers. Meanwhile, a reporting channel has been opened,forming a "supervision + public oversight" mechanism.

From a long-term perspective, the fishing ban reflects Chile’s "long-term, sustainable" approach to fisheries management, balancing ecological conservation and fishermen's livelihoods. The authorities have called on the public to cooperate by choosing other seafood alternatives during the ban period, jointly contributing to the sustainable development of Chile’s fisheries.