Chile\u27s National Interest in the Oceans

The presence of the Oceans in Chile\u27s life is uncontainable in spite that Chile\u27s direct commitment with it has been incoherent up until the present and much of the intentions of the governments have tended to give little or no importance to this major natural resource. It is only very recent that Chile has really begun to look to the sea in search of food and a significant progress has been made in the general utilization of the living resources. Concern is being felt in connection with the lack of adequate port facilities and the insufficiency of the merchant marine fleet. The massive importation of foodstuffs of the last years has put in evidence the outmoded quality of the port facilities, the lack of storage capacity and furthermore, the limitations of the land transportation to serve the sea