Nearly 400 Chinese fishing vessels operate off Peru's southern coast, researchers say

A fleet of nearly 400 Chinese fishing vessels is operating off Peru’s southern coast and moving north toward the Galápagos Islands, raising concerns among researchers and conservation groups about overfishing, pollution and possible unauthorized fishing, according to a monitoring report and interviews with regional experts.

Argentine researcher Milko Schvartzman, who specializes in illegal fishing, identified 342 Chinese fishing vessels operating off southern Peru last weekend, accompanied by between 20 and 25 support ships that provide offshore logistics and allow the fleet to remain at sea for extended periods. Schvartzman told Argentine news outlet Infobae on Tuesday that “the risk to marine conservation, migratory species and marine ecosystems is extremely high.”

The vessels target species such as squid and tuna but also catch other marine life in their path while generating significant pollution, Schvartzman said. “This fleet of nearly 400 vessels is constantly polluting the ocean. It discharges tons of plastic waste, used fuel, oil and all kinds of contaminants,” he said.

The fleet operates along the edge of countries’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zones rather than in open waters where fishing is permitted under international law, and relies on ports across the region for resupply and technical support. Schvartzman said there have been repeated allegations that some vessels switch off their Automatic Identification System to conceal unauthorized movements, making enforcement more difficult.

Cristóbal Correa, campaigns director for the international conservation organization Oceana Chile, said Peruvian artisanal fishermen have reported suspicious activity by the Chinese fleet inside Peru’s exclusive economic zone. “A similar situation occurred in Chile last year, when artisanal fishermen in the country’s north reported that Chinese vessels turned off their lights and satellite positioning systems,” Correa told UPI. “They managed to interrupt the movement of species, such as jumbo flying squid and squid, toward the Chilean coast, preventing local fishermen from catching them.” He said the practice has caused significant economic losses for local fishing communities.

Peru’s National Society of Artisanal Fisheries estimated those losses linked to illegal fishing at nearly $300 million. The South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization estimated that the Chinese fleet caught 514,000 metric tons of squid in the South Pacific in 2022, surpassing the annual catch of Peruvian vessels for the first time.

Since 2024, Peru has tightened inspections at its ports by requiring vessels to keep their Vessel Monitoring System active, including during emergencies, strengthening satellite tracking and increasing port inspections. Correa said those measures have prompted parts of the Chinese fleet to seek logistical support elsewhere, increasingly turning to Ecuador, home to the Galápagos Islands, and to Chile.

Correa cited data showing a sharp increase in port calls by Chinese vessels in Chile. “In 2024, there were only seven port calls by Chinese vessels in Chile. In 2025, that number rose to 196. That is a 2,700% increase,” he said. He said he cannot conclude that every port call is linked to illegal fishing but noted that allegations of suspicious conduct have increased in recent years and said authorities should strengthen oversight.

The Chilean Navy said it maintains continuous surveillance of the Chinese fishing fleet through satellite monitoring and maritime patrols to detect any unauthorized entry into the country’s exclusive economic zone. Correa said Chile’s enforcement capacity remains limited compared with the number of vessels operating in the region.

Fernando Wilson, a security consultant and professor at Chile’s Adolfo Ibáñez University, told UPI the country has stronger surveillance capabilities than other South Pacific nations because of its satellite monitoring, maritime patrol aircraft and offshore patrol vessels, but warned those resources are not sufficient to eliminate the risk. “We are talking about several hundred vessels. This is a danger and a problem that involves not only Chile but also Peru, Ecuador and Argentina. It is a regional challenge,” Wilson said.