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Due to good sanitary conditions at Pesquera El Golfo fish farms, its executives hope to begin cultivating the first Atlantic salmon smolts in freshwwater by the end of this year. 

 

After the crisis caused by the appearance of Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA) in 2007, the company had focused its production on rainbow trout. 

 

"The most important thing for us has been the effectiveness of authority (National Marine Fisheries Service SERNAPESCA), in the sense that they were extremely active in monitoring compliance with the regulations. It appears to us that the path to sustainability is a result of the exceptional practices which the industry has undertaken, which has been reflected in improved sanitation and better results in terms of production," Nicos Nicolaides, head of aquaculture at the firm, told Aqua. 

 

In addition to this, he expects that during 2010 El Golfo will process 12,000 tonnes of trout, 50 per cent of which has already been processed during the first half of the year. 

 

With regard to the possibility of compulsory self-regulation enforced by law within the salmon industry, Nicolaides said, that in the opinion of the company, "self-regulation does not work." 

 

In the view of the executive, there should be mandatory regulations for all those involved, monitored by the authorities and attested by judges. 

 

"That does not take away the fact that we, as an industry, actively participate in helping to make regulations established by authorities better," said the businessman. 

 

He clarified that Sernapesca should monitor and punish those who fail to comply with environmental and labour requirements. 

 

"While some members [of our trade association] believe that this position is too 'soft' on those who carry out bad practices within the industry, it is actually quite the opposite. The hardest thing for law breakers is to be sanctioned by the authorites" added Nicolaides.

 

The executive was also asked about the relocation of neighborhoods and natural banks, referred to in the new General Law on Fisheries and Aquaculture (LPGA). 

 

"We hope that a centre will have greater depths [of at least 25 metres] to be able to farm salmon and on the other hand, shellfish divers want exploit natural beds at shallower depths, so as to meet the standards that apply to diving. I would say that the problem is that there are very few places to relocate to, and many in the industry want to relocate, so there will be alot competition for those few places," he said. 

 

Last July, the president of the Association for the Chilean Salmon Industry A.G. (SalmonChile), Cesar Barros, said there was a strong consensus among the majority of members in the salmon industry over the sector's recovery. 

 

Many believe that the salmon industry will recover in around five years time, following the outbreaks of ISA in multiple farms across the country in 2007. 

 

In this regard, the leader said, "Thats roughly the deadline, which is the consensual view among the industry, but at the same time, it depends on the age of each company, as the older ones are likely to come out faster than the others." 

 

 

 

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