The protected area would ban industrial fishing while preserving traditional artisanal fishing practices. Supporters say the reserve will help safeguard one of the world’s most biodiverse marine ecosystems and strengthen stewardship of the surrounding waters.

Credits: Unsplash; Author: diegograndi;

The proposal follows years of consultation between the Chilean government and the Rapa Nui community, which has sought greater control over protecting its ancestral waters. If approved, the reserve would become one of the world’s largest Indigenous-managed marine protected areas, conserving habitats for hundreds of marine species while supporting traditional livelihoods and long-term ocean conservation.