The Chilean Sea is a legal invention rather than a geographical reality

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: While it sounds like a standard body of water, the Chilean Sea is actually a political and legal construct. It defines the maritime zones where Chile asserts sovereignty and exclusive rights, extending far into the Pacific. It is a complex, contested space that shapes international relations and future resource extraction.

The Chilean Sea is not a geographic entity recognized by the International Hydrographic Organization. Instead, it was established through a 1974 decree as a legal framework to govern maritime spaces. This domain encompasses waters stretching 200 nautical miles from the mainland coast, and up to 350 nautical miles around the Polynesian islands of Rapa Nui and Salas y Gómez. Beyond these zones, Chile also defines a 'presential sea'—a high-seas area where it claims no sovereignty but asserts an interest in protecting marine resources from pollution and overfishing.

The boundaries of this domain have been subject to intense international friction. In 2014, a ruling by the International Court of Justice settled a maritime dispute with Peru, resulting in a reduction of Chile’s maritime zone. More recently, tensions have flared with Argentina regarding the continental shelf in the Southern Zone. In 2021, a presidential decree attempted to define a section of the continental shelf that overlaps with areas claimed by Argentina, leading to formal diplomatic opposition. These disputes highlight the difficulty of mapping underwater territory in an era of shifting geopolitical interests.

Beyond politics, the Chilean Sea is a site of potential economic significance. The seafloor contains deposits of manganese-iron nodules and phosphorite, which are viewed as targets for future mining operations. To solidify its legal standing, Chile has actively engaged with the United Nations, submitting reports to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in 2020 and 2022. These efforts, including presentations in New York, reflect a broader strategy to formalize control over both the seabed and the migratory fish stocks that traverse these vast, strategically vital waters.

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