The firm has a 30-day period to recover salmon that escaped after the cage broke. (Photo: gentileza latercera.com)
Sernapesca files complaint against Marine Harvest for infrastructure deficiencies
CHILE
Saturday, July 21, 2018, 01:30 (GMT + 9)
The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (SERNAPESCA) filed a complaint against the company Marine Harvest Chile for possible breaches in the maintenance and security of the infrastructure of Punta Redonda centre, located on Huar Island.
On July 5, 690,000 salmon escaped from this centre due to the collapse of these facilities during the frontal system that affected Los Lagos region.
The complaint was filed with the Superintendency of the Environment (SMA) and according to what was preliminarily compiled by SERNAPESCA, it states that the escape could have been caused by breaches in the maintenance of the safety conditions of the farming units, transgressing the Environmental Regulation for Aquaculture and the basic conditions for its operation.
SERNAPESCA deputy director of Aquaculture Ruth Alarcón said that the complaint "is presented as it considers that there may be a breach by the company with respect to the guarantees that the structures can withstand events such as the one that occurred". She added that on Friday last week a report was sent to the SMA through which it was recommended the adoption of urgent and transitory measures that the company should adopt in the short term.
In the framework of these urgent measures, SERNAPESCA suggested:
- The temporary closure of the farming centre until it meets the safety conditions appropriate to the geographical and oceanographic characteristics of the concession site.
- That the company presents a periodic program of recognition overflights to rule out mortalities in the area surrounding the escape area.
- That the company fixes a plan of final disposition in case of mortalities found.
- That the company establishes a recapture program with geographic information of the fish movements and mapping of the points where recapture occurs, indicating the progress status weekly.
According to current environmental regulations, all salmon farming centres must have farming and anchouring modules that meet safety conditions appropriate to the geographical and oceanographic characteristics of the concession site. Likewise, within the instruments of environmental qualification, the obligation of the companies to maintain said security conditions at all times is contemplated.
To date, the company has reported the recapture of 5.7 per cent of the escaped specimens, a process that is constantly monitored by SERNAPESCA teams, who together with the Navy and Carabineros inspect the recapture process and perform various controls on roads and areas of recreational fishing to prevent the commercialization and consumption of these specimens.
The General Fisheries and Aquaculture Law establishes a period of 30 days for the company to recover at least 10 per cent of escaped specimens, if it does not occur that the existence of environmental damage is presumed.
Meanwhile, the environmental court may apply sanctions ranging from 1 to 10,000 UTA, the revocation of the resolution of environmental qualification and/or temporary or definitive closure of the farming centre.
Related articles:
- SMA requests permission from Environmental Court to stop operations at Marine Harvest centre
- Marine Harvest clarifies information on massive salmon escape
- Salmon escape could cost USD 14 million to Marine Harvest
- Marine Harvest tries to recapture some 900,000 escaped salmon not fit for consumption
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