Farmed salmon. (Photo: Chile Potencia Alimentaria)

Three salmon firms accused of environmental offences

CHILE
Friday, May 10, 2013, 22:30 (GMT + 9)

The Superintendence of the Environment (SMA) filed charges against three salmon companies for breach of environmental regulations.

The companies involved, Sociedad Granja Marina Tornagaleones, Acuimag and Exportadora Los Fiordos, operate in the Regions of Los Lagos, Magallanes and Aysen.

As regards Granja Marina Tornagaleones, the authority found that it does not have the Environmental Qualification Resolution (RCA) for the Salmon Fattening Centre project, Punta Quillaipe sector, located in Los Lagos Region.

Meanwhile, the charges against Exportadora Los Fiordos and Acuimag were for breaching the commitments set in the RCA of the salmon fattening centres they have in Aysen and Magallanes, respectively.

In the case of Tornagaleones, the SMA found that the facilities are located outside the maritime concession and the area suitable for aquaculture. Therefore, its potential impacts are not evaluated from the environment point of view.

"Thus, it is clear that the audited project is different from that that has been authorized and lacks an environmental assessment under the provisions of Law No. 19,300 on Environmental General Principles," the SMA determined.

To the Superintendence, this offense is serious and could imply the revocation of the permit, the closure of the facility, or fines ranging from 1 UTA to 5,000 UTA (annual tax unit) that the firms will have to face.

The charges against Acuimag and Exportadora Los Fiordos were for breach of the RCA of the feedlot centre Wagner II, Estero Poca Esperanza (Magallanes) and of the feedlot centre Sector Uno Norte Isla Francisco (Aysen), respectively, stated Diario Financiero.

In these cases, the charges were made primarily due to the location of the facilities, which are outside the concession area and the location authorized in their environmental permits.

Anyway, there are charges associated with handling liquid waste and mortalities, and the lack of environmental permits.

The Superintendence shall notify the holders of these projects, who will have a period of 10 days to present a compliance programme for carrying out their environmental obligations and end the sanction proceedings. Otherwise, they have a period of 15 days to submit rebuttals at the SMA, after which the sanction process continues.

According to the marine biologist and spokesperson of Pumalín Foundation, Hector Kol, this situation is only the tip of the iceberg of the health status of the Chilean salmon culture. Therefore, he hoped that the Superintendence asserts its authority and revokes the Environmental Impact produced by these companies, reported Radio Bio Bio.

By Analia Murias
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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