Chile’s government has outlined a two-track legislative agenda focused on aquaculture reform and coastal zoning, while confirming broader fisheries legislation will not proceed.
Speaking before joint fisheries committees in Congress, Osvaldo Urrutia said the administration of José Antonio Kast will prioritise targeted regulatory changes over a full rewrite of the legal framework introduced under former president Gabriel Boric.
The government has withdrawn the wider fisheries reform initiated in 2024, citing limited legislative progress. Urrutia confirmed that the existing quota allocation system will remain unchanged, providing near-term policy continuity.
For aquaculture, the government will pursue two main workstreams. The first aims to modernise the current regulatory framework, with a focus on improving environmental standards and strengthening industry competitiveness. Urrutia indicated that changes can be implemented through specific regulatory adjustments rather than a new overarching law.
The second track targets reforms to the Lafkenche Law, which governs Indigenous Coastal Marine Spaces (ECMPO). Urrutia said the current framework has delayed aquaculture development, and that proposed amendments will seek to balance indigenous rights with productive use of coastal areas.
The government also plans to relocate around 200 aquaculture concessions during its term, as part of efforts to improve spatial planning and operational efficiency.
On environmental regulation, Urrutia signalled a review of 11 existing rules, following industry concerns over limited consultation in earlier legislative processes. He also criticised aspects of the biodiversity law, Law 21.600, citing uncertainty created by unclear protection categories.
More broadly, the administration reiterated its intention to adopt an ecosystem-based management approach, incorporating environmental interactions and climate-related impacts into sector governance.
The reform agenda will progress in parallel with stakeholder engagement. Industry attention is expected to focus on the execution of concession relocations and the outcome of proposed changes to coastal access rules under the Lafkenche framework.
