No, extracting sand from Chilean beaches violates the Ley General de Bases del Medio Ambiente (DFL N°1/2023) and Decreto Supremo N°48 (2020), which classify beaches as public goods under the Subsecretaría de Pesca y Acuicultura (SUBPESCA) jurisdiction. Civil and criminal penalties apply under Código Penal Art. 494, with fines up to 1,000 UTM (≈$85,000 USD) and potential imprisonment for large-scale removal. The 2026 enforcement plan by the Superintendencia del Medio Ambiente targets illegal sand mining, particularly in northern regions like Antofagasta and Atacama.
Key Regulations for Taking Sand from the Beach in Chile
- Public Domain Status: Beaches are bienes nacionales de uso público (Law N°20.417), prohibiting private extraction without permits. SUBPESCA and the Dirección General del Territorio Marítimo y de Marina Mercante (DIRECTEMAR) enforce this.
- Permit Requirements: Only licensed entities may extract sand for construction or scientific purposes, requiring an Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental (EIA) under Ley N°19.300. Approval is rare; commercial extraction is effectively banned.
- Criminal Liability: Under Código Penal Art. 494, unauthorized removal exceeding 50 kg triggers misdemeanor charges. Repeat offenders face asset forfeiture under Ley N°20.930 (2016 anti-illegal mining reforms).