Red tide. (Photo: Sernapesca)
Scientists rule out link between red tide and salmon dumping
CHILE
Friday, August 19, 2016, 22:10 (GMT + 9)
The committee of independent scientists in charge of investigating the red tide phenomenon affecting Los Lagos Region this year, after 11 months of study, concluded that salmon dumping was not an agent causing the phenomenon.
The group presented a progress report to the Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism, which states that they reached this conclusion after a review process of various historical sources, sampling, climate and oceanographic analysis and by obtaining data gathered by the scientific expedition to Cape Horn.
Among other points, the scientists note that it should be noted that at the time the salmon dumping was performed (March 14 to 23 this year), there were already harmful algal blooms (HABs), better known as the red tide, at different points in the region of Los Lagos and Aysen.
"The gathered evidence from climatic, meteorological, oceanographic and biological information analyzed by this committee, and obtained both from national and international public sources and from the survey makes it possible for us to conclude that salmon dumping performed at 75 nautical miles west off the coast of Chiloe has no direct relation with the HABs in the region," the committee informed in a statement from the Ministry of Economy.
Committee spokeswoman Monica Vasquez said: "Salmon dumping does not have a causal relation with the harmful algal blooms observed in the region. The climatic and oceanographic conditions were conducive to the development of these blooms, most commonly called red tide".
The committee was composed of Alejandro Buschmann (University of Lagos), Laura Farias (U. de Concepcion), Fabian Tapia (U. de Concepcion), Daniel Varela (University of Los Lagos) and Monica Vasquez (Catholic University).
In October the experts will submit a series of recommendations for the country to better face such events.
Related articles:
- Scientists to analyze possible red tide-salmon dumping link
- Red tide of poisonous algae is the world's second largest case
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