Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture from Chile, Felipe Sandoval. (Photo: Minagri)
CHILEThursday, December 18, 2014, 03:20 (GMT + 9)
The Chilean Government intends to freeze salmon farm concession allocation in the regions of Los Lagos and Aysen so as to organise the Chilean fishing sector.
While several companies have questioned the measure, the Association of Salmon Industry from Chile AG (SalmonChile) praises it.
"This is not to prevent the entry of new players but to organise the current state of the industry," explained Felipe Sandoval, SalmonChile president, as it was reported by Pulso.
The Chilean government does not want the conditions leading to the infectious salmon anemia (ISA) virus spread some years ago to be repeated, since they cause a severe crisis in the industry. This situation ended up in several redundancies and in some fishing firms on the verge of bankruptcy.
The corresponding authorities are 'tuning' the details of a bill to freeze new salmon farm concessions in both regions until 2020.
According to Eugenio Zamorano Villalobos, chief of the Aquaculture Division of theUndersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SUBPESCA), they hope to send this bill to Congress by the end of December.
So far, and until 8 April, 2015, there is a moratorium in Chile for the allocation of concessions.
"We expect the bill to be sent in January. With this, the idea is to extend the closure of the access to aquaculture concessions in the regions of Los Lagos and Aysen for five years, added Zamorano"
In addition, the central government aims to complete the relocation process that began with the salmon farming act published in 2010.
Meanwhile, the government refuses to grant further concessions until all relocations are completed.
On the other hand, Magallanes region is a target for several fishing companies seeking to increase their production.
"It is intended to grant incentives for the 19 concessions that are within the National Park Alberto de Agostini to have the choice to relocate and be able to get out of the maritime portions. That will be so through an article that will give preference to these concessions," stated Zamorano to Pulso.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Undersecretariat Raul Súnico points out that the salmon industry “has sufficient resources and advice to avoid errors after an experience in processing the procedure for more than 20 years.”
"Today the sea in the southern regions has become a scarce asset that does not make it possible for the salmon sector to maintain a privilege that has been granted to them through an act of the year 1991, when there was pressure from the coastal edge like today," SUBPESCA head stressed.