June 2, 2022

New documentary urges protection of Chile's coast from commercial salmon development

A new National Geographic documentary has called for the protection of a large portion of Chile's coastline from further commercial salmon-farming development.

The documentary, titled "Canoeros: Memoria Viva" (Canoeists: Living Memory), and its creators are calling for Chile's Kawésqar National Reserve to be classified as a national park, effectively halting farming in the region.

The Kawésqar National Park extends over 2.8 million hectares, making it the second-largest park in Chile. However, the coastal areas in the park are considered a national reserve, a category that has less protection than a park. The reserve is home to 67 salmon-farming concessions, with an additional 80 concession requests currently pending, National Geographic reported.

The documentary was produced by National Geographic's global programme Pristine Seas, which has the stated mission of combining exploration, research, policy and economic work, strategic communications, education and community engagement with the goal of helping to create marine reserves and ensuring their effective management.

The Pristine Seas expedition filmed the documentary in partnership with members of the Kawésqar and Yagán indigenous groups.

The Kawésqar community, with aid from local activist groups and the support of NGOs including AIDA, Greenpeace and FIMA, is in the midst of a campaign to protect the marine ecosystems of the Magallanes located in indigenous ancestral territories. The groups are looking to avoid potential environmental damage that could be caused by industrial salmon-farming activities.

A report published by Pristine Seas said that scientific findings strongly support the traditional knowledge of the Kawésqar peoples.

National Geographic's list of "the most-serious impacts of salmon farming documented in Patagonia" include mass escapes of "invasive and carnivorous" salmon, high use of antibiotics and anti-parasite drugs, the destruction of the sea bed from salmon and feed waste, and the loss of marine species such as whales, dolphins and sea lions inside salmon farms.

- SeafoodSource