Dead salmon dumping. (Photo: Fundación Terram)
Navy makes statement on salmon dumping ruling
CHILE
Thursday, May 24, 2018, 23:30 (GMT + 9)
The Chilean Navy made a statement after hearing the decision of the Supreme Court to accept a protection appeal presented by artisanal fishermen and environmental organizations of Los Lagos Region against four agencies, for the authorization to dump 9,000 tonnes of dead salmon into the sea.
The events occurred in March 2016, when a toxic algae bloom caused the loss of 40,000 tonnes of salmon in Reloncaví inlet.
In the ruling issued on May 22, the High Court Third Chamber ordered the adoption of a series of measures to the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (SERNAPESCA), the Directorate of Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine (DIRECTEMAR), the Regional Secretariat Ministerial (SEREMI) of Health and the Superintendency of the Environment.
Through a statement, the Navy explained that the decision to authorize such dumping "was founded, particularly in the emergency situation that fish waste represented, given the high level of risk that existed for human health."
It added: "According to the Protocol of 1996 and the guidelines of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that regulate dumping, this constitutes an exceptional situation that legitimizes this behaviour. (IMO Guidelines that establish the procedures and criteria for determining and dealing with emergency situations for discharges referred to in Articles 8 and 18.1.6 of the 1996 Protocol, Annex 11 London Protocol 28/15). This scenario requires the immediate adoption of measures, which eventually makes it impossible to carry out detailed consultations and evaluations, an argument that was used in this contingency".
The statement also notes that the General Comptroller of the Republic, through an investigation conducted in March 2017, based on the same regulation, "verified that the authorization granted by DIRECTEMAR for the dumping of fish waste was adjusted to the applicable regulations."
Finally, with respect to prevention and coordination measures ordered by the Supreme Court to improve response times to future contingencies, the Navy reported that "these began to be implemented in 2016 after the incident, in coordination with other public services. "
Regarding the sector measures that concern it, it indicates that these are arranged in a newsletter issued in December 2016, which establishes safety provisions that must be adopted in cases of emergency product of mass fish mortality for cargo, transport and unloading.
Related article:
- Supreme Court declares salmon dumping illegal in Los Lagos
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