Salmon farming carried out at Los Fiordos. (Photo: SalmonChile)
Los Fiordos fined with USD 3.2 million for environmental breaches
CHILE
Friday, October 30, 2015, 02:40 (GMT + 9)
The Superintendency of the Environment (SMA) ended the sanction proceedings opened earlier this year against Exportadora Los Fiordos, a subsidiary of Agrosuper, for various offenses detected in 18 farms of the company located in Canal de Puyuhuapi, Aysen region.
The penalty provided implies a fine for 4,143 Annual Tax Units (ATU), equivalent to CLP 2,226 million (USD 3.2 million). This is the highest penalty issued by the SMA to a company in the salmon industry.
The Superintendency recalls that in the 18 farms a total of 38 violations to the environmental and sanitary regulations were detected, which were grouped into 10 categories.
Among the infringements, it mentions the following: placing nets in neighbouring farms to the farming sectors; waste from the activity on the seabed and neighbouring beaches; not having properly arranged salmon mortalities, resulting in the runoff of organic material to the environment; overproduction in the farming centre Bahia Anita; rafts cages and platforms outside the concession area, among others.
After analyzing the data provided by the company during the sanction process, the SMA confirmed 35 of the 38 infringements, and absolved the company from three formulated charges.
For the weighting of the studied fines, the government agency considered, among other circumstances, the risk caused by infringements to the system of Patagonian fiords and the involvement of the environmental control system.
The representatives of Los Fiordos said the company is analyzing the sanction and does not rule out resorting to legal means.
"Los Fiordos has always strictly complied with environmental, health and aquaculture regulations, being concerned about the environment one of the cornerstones of our company policy," pointed out the salmon farming company in a statement.
Related article:
- Los Fiordos faces charges for 'environmental breaches'
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Photo Courtesy of FIS Member SalmonChile - Asociación de la Industria del Salmón A.G
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