Chilean Fjords and Islands

With more than 83,850 kilometers of coastline and numerous offshore islands including the Juan Fernandez Islands, Easter Island and Desventuradas Island (home to the southern fur seal), Chile’s marine territory is vast. Its southern fjords offer important habitat for whales, dolphins, seals and other marine mammals, while the seafloor hosts a diverse array of coral and other invertebrates, including several species unique to the area. Marine life within the Chilean Fjords and Islands experience threats from overfishing and industrialization along the Chilean coast, and damage from bottom trawlers along the Juan Fernandez Islands. Nevertheless, hope is on the horizon: the Chilean government is in the works to establish several Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) across the Patagonia area and surrounding islands.

Protected Species

Corals Dolphins Seals Whales