February 24, 2012

Salmones Magallanes to build US$25 million modern fish farm

This facility will house salmon in their first stage of life, when they live in fresh water, until they reach about 100 grams and can be transferred to the sea.

The new plant will use bacteria to purify and clean the water, which will also be disinfected by ultraviolet radiation, portal El Pingüino informed.

It is expected to produce 100% of the smolts which are needed in the region and eight million fish.

According to Oscar Garay, Farming Manager of Salmones Magallanes, the new project "goes far beyond direct employment for people who work in fish farming because through it the company will be consolidated in the area, allowing slow but steady growth."

It is estimated that this initiative will create at least 500 more jobs directly and indirectly.

The company says that caring for the environment is one of its main concerns. Therefore, its centres at sea have cameras and sensors that monitor feeding, to keep food, so as to cause the least possible impact on the seabed.

"This vision and way of working mean more investment, but this ultimately is fully compensated with minimal environmental impact of our activities and environmental protection, which if it deteriorated, it would directly affects us ", Garay said.

He added: "This is reflected in the farm investment, which if it had been a traditional one, it would have cost 30% less."

Salmones Magallanes has been operating in the area for over 15 years. It now has six centres for fattening, a fish farm and a breeding centre, in addition to a processing plant that is leased to process salmon and produce value added products.