Artisanal fishermen radicalized their protests in different parts of the Biobío Region.

Giant squid war: protests of artisanal and industrial fishermen intensify

CHILE
Tuesday, January 15, 2019, 23:30 (GMT + 9)

The "giant squid war" is worsening in Chile, given that the imminent change in the regulation of the giant squid fishery, which will replace the capture of this cephalopod with the trawl method by handline or jigging gear, keeps the artisanal and industrial fishermen confronted.

Workers in the fishing industry in the Biobío region declared an indefinite strike last week, unhappy with the law regulating the giant squid capture, while artisanal fishermen threaten to radicalize protests in favor of the law.

The controversial project could be sent to the Constitutional Court by the Government. This idea has the support of the industrialists, who accuse that the modification could leave thousands of people unemployed.

Yesterday, the fishermen installed barricades in different points of Talcahuano, controlled the streets and interrupted the traffic.

On the one hand, artisans erected barricades at the entrance to the Port of San Vicente, in Talcahuano. In Colón, on the other hand, industrial workers protested in the access to the Interportuaria Route, El Mostrador reported.

The point of greatest violence was recorded at the height of the Ramadillas bridge, on the route to Coronel, where two forest trucks that were parked in the vicinity of the viaduct were burned out.

The National Council for the Defense of the Fishing Heritage (CONDEPP) expressed its recognition for "the bravery of the fishermen of the Maule and Biobío Regions who raise their voices in the streets, demanding that the Government of Sebastián Piñera comply with the mandate of the Congress and do not resort to the Constitutional Court to revert the fulfillment of a law that puts an end to the drag and that takes care of the sustainability of the fishing resources." 

The directors of the organization call for the artisanal fishermen unity, with the sole objective of "fishing resources are for all Chileans." In addition, they urge them to "not be intimidated" by the threats of the seven families of the fishing industry and to continue being the guardians of the care of the fishing resources.

For his part, the president of the National Federation of Trade Unions of Artisanal Fishermen of Chile (FENASPAR), Hernan Cortes, warned that "if this issueis going to continue, they will buy a huge social conflict in the region and the country."  

Meanwhile, workers in the industrial fishing sector, who oppose the current text of the "Giant Squid Law", announced that their leaders travel to Santiago in order to meet with Labor Minister Nicolás Monckeberg. Operators denounced that the regulations, as approved, would result in dismissals, reported La Tercera.

"Only for the giant squid, seven boats will stop in the area, generating unemployment for more than 3,000 people," said Juan Carlos González, president of the Union of Fishing Captains of the Biobío.

From the Executive, meanwhile, they still do not rule out the possibility of sending the project to the TC.

"As a government, we are analyzing how the actions that are to be adopted will be carried out," said the Biobío Government Seremi, Francesca Parodi, who called for dialogue among the unions.

Related articles:

-CONFEPACH statement puts giant squid artisanal fishing on alert
-Workers of the Biobío fishing industry start indefinite strike over giant squid law
-Project that regulates giant squid capture ready to be enacted as law

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