CONAPACH has already proposed a sea lion national scheme addressing the different artisanal fishing areas. (Photo: Conapach)
Fishermen granted funds to mitigate problems caused by sea lions
CHILE
Monday, November 19, 2018, 08:00 (GMT + 9)
Nearly 4,000 artisanal fishermen from Los Lagos Region obtained public funds amounting to CLP 329 million (USD 484,000) to carry out mitigation initiatives against the sea lion issue.
In the country there are about 200,000 of these mammals and fishermen periodically report cases of individuals feeding on their catches, damaging nets and even sinking their boats.
The delivery of resources for the artisanal sector of Los Lagos is one of the initiatives carried out by the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SUBPESCA) to deal with the complications generated by sea lions.
Sea lions often break or sink fishing vessels. (Photo: courtesy lasegunda.com) ►
CLP 329 million is part of a fund of CLP 500 million (USD 735,900), corresponding to the RAE merluza austral-FAP programme, Los Lagos, 2018, which benefits some 3,800 fishermen from 11 areas of the region, who perform their tasks onboard 1,270 boats.
"There are 329 million that are being delivered now, there are public funds, a direct injection of resources, so that the leaders distribute among their fishermen and they can take concrete mitigation measures against the losses generated by the sea lion," said Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture Eduardo Riquelme.
With the money, the fishermen from Los Lagos will be able to acquire different elements to reduce the complications generated by the coexistence with the animal: artificial baits and hydraulic or mechanical toners, among others.
Also, they will have the possibility of looking for technology that "dissuades" the mammal, without causing harm; train in the elimination of waste that serves as food for the sea lion, or organize seminars to thoroughly analyze the complications that it generates.
Leaders from four of the eleven zones of Los Lagos have already received the contributions from the CLP 500 million fund, which, apart from the working line of the sea lion, extending to two other areas: health aspects and traceability, and commercialization.
The delivery of the funds corresponding to the remaining seven areas of Los Lagos is about to take place.
The RAE merluza austral-FAP programme, Los Lagos, 2018, joins other SUBPESCA initiatives in the same field: an idea competition for fishermen that distributes CLP 78 million, a manual of good practices, and pilot tests with technological devices to drive away the sea lion, in Calbuco and in coves in two other areas of the country.
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