Merlu threatened: Chile fishing fights against overfishing and climate change!

Im Chili sind Fischereihäfen betroffen, da der merlu zunehmend rar wird. Änderungen in der Gesetzgebung und Klimafolgen erschweren die nachhaltige Fischerei.
Fishing ports are affected in the chilli because the Merlu is becoming increasingly rare. Sustainable fisheries make changes in legislation and climate consequences difficult. (Symbolbild/MND)

Merlu threatened: Chile fishing fights against overfishing and climate change!

Caleta Portales, Chile - The small port of Caleta Portales in the Chile could not look darker at the moment. Fishing boats often come back with empty networks - an alarming sign for local fishing and the community there. The main actor, the Merlu, faces a serious threat and is becoming increasingly rare. The Fischer Rodrigo Gallardo, 46 ​​years old, recently laid out a Palangre with 2,000 sardines as bait to catch just one Merlu. This shows how serious the Situation is. According to [Figaronautism.Meteteoconsult. 20 years of astonishing 70%.

Despite strict quota regulations since 2013, the loss of the Merlu biomass has increased by 17% between 2023 and 2024. This tense situation means that one speaks of "overfishing", a state that has existed since 2012. In order to counteract this crisis, the fishing boundaries for Merlu were reduced from 121,000 tons in 2001 to just 35,000 tons.

challenges of sustainable fishing

The persistently critical location of the Merlus has a direct effect on the jobs in the field of fishing. Marcel Moenne, the director of Pacificblu, recently warned that a further reduction in the quotas could endanger around 3,200 jobs. The change of quota divisions - of 40% for manual fishing and 60% for industrial fishermen to 45% and 55% - was also decided to promote sustainable fishing.

In addition to these measures, fishermen must learn to adapt to the consequences of climate change. Climate change has already influenced the spread and reproduction of Merlus in the Chilean waters. The [French Ministry of Agriculture] (https://www.adaptation-Changement-climatique.gouv.fr/dossiers--thematiques/secteurs-d-activites/peche-et-aquaCulture emphasizes the need to strengthen the resilience of fishing and aquaculture towards these changes. The migration of populations and the associated adjustments in the allocation of fishing quotas are also important.

future prospects

The Chilean government has also committed itself to protecting the deep -sea fishing and protected more than 40% of the country's waters by Marine Protected Area. In addition, the authorities hope for additional support from the signing of an UN contract for deep-sea fishing. This is how Valparaíso is to be made the seat of this contract.

The initiative "Pêche Durable" in France shows how important a sustainable fishing policy is that takes into account both environmental and social criteria. A fishing that has existed since 2017 is promoted that has no significant effects on the ecosystems, respects the living and working conditions of the fishermen and guarantees fresh products. These standards should also serve as guidelines for Chilean fishing to secure a sustainable future. The path therefore leads to awareness and measures that benefit both the environment and the local economy.

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OrtCaleta Portales, Chile
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