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EspañolSalmon Farms Threaten Southern Chile
Preparing farm-raised salmon for export, Puerto Montt, Chile.
PHOTO: Flavia Liberona, Ecosistemas
"To see fish farming at its worst, travel to Chile," says Time Magazine.*
E-LAW U.S. Environmental Research Scientist, Meche Lu, recently traveled to Chile to see the problems first-hand and help communities respond.
Salmon are not native to Chile, but waters off southern Chile are supporting a growing salmon-farming industry. Unfortunately, fish farms can pollute aquatic environments and pose health risks to consumers.
Grassroots advocates at Fiscalía del Medio Ambiente (FIMA) and Alianza Aysén Reserva de Vida called on Meche this year to help educate fishing communities in Patagonia about problems with aquaculture and steps communities can take to protect waterways and coastal ecosystems.
Meche joined FIMA and Alianza Aysén to lead workshops in Puerto Montt to educate fishing communities about the impacts of fish farming, and how to strengthen environmental regulations to protect Chile`s wild fisheries.
Salmon cages in Puerto Montt, Chile.
PHOTO: Flavia Liberona, Ecosistemas
Meche said workshop participants were eager to learn about the fish farming industry and how to protect coastal areas.
In Puerto Montt, a woman complained that the river near her home had been contaminated because fish farms clean out their nets and equipment near the river. Others complained that fish farms had reduced the catch of local fishermen.
~~~   >O   ~~~   Fish Facts   ~~~   O<   ~~~ * Chile and Norway are the world`s largest producers of farmed salmon. * About 70% of Chile`s fish farm products go to the U.S. and Japan. |
| Source: Institute for Health and the Environment, University of Albany www.albany.edu/ihe/salmonstudy/background.html |
Fish farming means raising and feeding an enormous number of fish in a very small area, using antibiotics and pesticides to reduce disease and prevent parasites. Fish food, in the form of pellets, can contaminate the sea floor and disturb local ecosystems. Studies in North America have shown that PCBs can accumulate to unhealthy levels in the fatty tissues of farmed fish, posing health risks to consumers.
Environmental regulation in Chile has not kept up with the rapid development of salmon aquaculture. Many operations are placed dangerously close to each other and wastes are not monitored.
E-LAW U.S. is proud of its work helping fishing communities in Patagonia protect coastal ecosystems.
* Time Magazine, "Is Fish Farming Safe?" (November 17, 2002)
