June 22, 2023

 

Chile rejects proposed ban aquaculture concessions in protected areas

 

A joint committee in Chile's congress has rejected a proposed amendment to the country's general fisheries law that aimed to prohibit new or renewed aquaculture concessions in protected areas, SeafoodSource reported.

 

The committee declined to approve the article for the establishment of the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Service (SBAP), which would have prohibited the introduction of exotic hydrobiological species, such as salmon, into these areas.

 

Chilean salmon farming companies and many workers within the industry said that the implementation of the article could have resulted in the cancellation of 431 existing salmon farming concessions, putting thousands of jobs at risk in the Los Lagos, Ayssn, and Magallanes regions.

 

Protests erupted in response, with over 10,000 people demonstrating in the city of Puerto Montt, accompanied by ship sirens sounding in the bay. Similar protests took place on the island of Chiloe and in the city of Puerto Natales, both known for their salmon farming activity.

 

Arturo Clement, the president of SalmonChile, emphasised the significance of the committee's recognition of the concerns expressed by operators, transporters, SMEs, farmers, and the extensive value chain within the sector.

 

Clément said that SalmonChile aimed to continue engaging in dialogue with lawmakers to collaboratively establish effective public policies that would lay the foundation for the future of aquaculture.

 

Although the proposed ban on aquaculture concessions in protected areas was rejected, the congressional committee did approve several other articles within the bill. These articles seek to establish a public service under Chile's Ministry of the Environment, responsible for biodiversity conservation in the country.

 

The bill also includes provisions for the creation of a national system of protected areas and the promotion of conservation initiatives outside of these protected areas.

 

Chilean regulators have intensified their scrutiny of the country's salmon sector, which was valued at US$6.6 billion last year, since the election of President Gabriel Boric in December 2021.

 

Chile's National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) has increased its regulatory oversight of issues such as overproduction and fish escapes, while the Superintendency of the Environment (SMA) has been actively investigating salmon farmers and imposing significant penalties on companies found to have violated the parameters of their permits.

 

-      SeafoodSource