Minister of Economy José Ramón Valente met with salmon farmers to discuss regulations. (Photo: Subpesca)

Minister of Economy deals with salmon companies adjustments in farming regulations

CHILE
Friday, August 17, 2018, 02:40 (GMT + 9)

The Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism, José Ramón Valente, summoned salmon producers to a working table to discuss adjustments related to the farming regulations corresponding to the sector. The meeting was attended by representatives of 23 salmon farms operating in Los Lagos, Aysén and Magallanes regions.

The discussion was convened with the purpose of exposing in detail the scope of the initiative on the density of crops, and to consider the views of the salmon farmers with a view to the entry into force of the new regulation.

Through the regulations of crop density, the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SUBPESCA) -- under the Ministry of Economy -- establishes the maximum number of salmon that a cage can contain.

"As a Government and through dialogue, we want to strengthen the salmon industry for all stakeholders, small, medium and large producers, our goal is to maintain internal competitiveness and also its leadership position on the world stage, to ensure a sustainable industry, which generates new jobs and investment," said Minister Valente.

The coexistence of salmon inside the cages in overcrowded conditions generates an environment leading to the onset and spread of diseases, with consequent health and environmental risks.

In particular, the proposal made known by the Government aims to control in a timely manner the drastic increases in production at the salmon farming plants.

"Since 2010 we have worked on new measures to ensure the success of the industry, and a key element of them has been to keep a quantity of fish in production that is consistent with what is environmentally reasonable. The effectiveness of these measures has been verified with the recovery of the industry and the absence of unwanted health events," said undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture Eduardo Riquelme.

The undersecretary stressed that the representatives of the salmon sector will have the possibility of making their opinion known in the face of the proposal promoted by the Government.

"We have set a deadline, until August 27, for companies to send their comments, their proposals, their comments, regarding the matter under discussion, and we will make a decision." There is no agreement in the industry. We would like to see a consensus, but of course our job, as an authority, is to make a decision," Riquelme said.

editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media

Print