With over 83,850 kilometers of coastline, and a number of offshore islands, Chile’s marine territory is vast. The Chilean fjords contain diverse benthic ecosystems of corals and other invertebrates, and the waters support krill and other small fish that serve as prey for whales, dolphins, and seals. Chile also governs a number of small islands territories, including the Juan Fernandez Islands and Easter Island. Easter Island is also included in the Pew Global Ocean Legacy initiative. These islands are inhabited by southern fur seals and serve as breeding grounds for the Magellanic penguin. This important ecosystem faces threats from aquaculture, commercial fishing, and pollution. The Chilean Fjords and Islands have been designated as a Hope Spot by Mission Blue and the international marine conservation organization Oceana is working to create a marine protected area in Tortel, Patagonia, which features several fjords with high biodiversity.
