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Removing dead salmon from algae bloom. (Photo: Sernapesca)
Salmon firms ordered to eliminate salmon mortality
(CHILE, 3/15/2016)
The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) has granted a five day deadline starting on Monday for those salmon companies affected by algae bloom in the region of Los Lagos to make the final disposition of those mortalities that occurred over ten days ago.
The measure seeks to prevent the mortalities of each farming centre to generate an environmental emergency as a result of the decaying fish.
In that sense, Alicia Gallardo, assistant director of Sernapesca Aquaculture, said each company was asked to deliver action plans with a maximum of 24 hours in which the use of small-scale vessels that are unsuitable for handling this type of waste will not be authorised.
The authority explained that "over ten day-old mortality is not suitable to be processed into fishmeal, so it should be disposed into landfills -- provided the Health Authority approves of it and once the companies guarantee the suitable treatment--, or else they must be disposed into the sea, in a safe area established by the Maritime Authority, at a point 75 nautical miles west of the coast of the region of Los Lagos" (about 140 kilometers).
Last Friday the first 200 tonnes of mortality was unloaded into the sea, in the framework of the protocols referred to in resolution 12600/05/114 of the Maritime Authority, which granted permission for emergency dumping of farmed fish due to the contingency caused by algae bloom within Reloncaví, and that has meant the death of 24 million salmon.
The maneuver began at midnight on Thursday with the departure of the wellboat Superior Grip from Puerto Montt and this vessel arrived at the landing point on Friday at 8:30 pm.
"An official of Sernapesca was aboard the vessel to verify that the unloading activity was carried out following the authorized procedure while from Valparaiso the sailing track as monitored via satellite," Gallardo explained.
The fish waste landing procedure ended on Saturday after four in the morning amid difficult climatic conditions that contributed for the maneuver to become more complex, which despite this fact went on smoothly.
Regarding the doubts that can be generated by the landing of those mortalities into the sea, the Aquaculture assistant director stressed that this procedure is part of the so-called London Protocol, which is the international convention establishing the safety and health parameters for dumping such elements at sea.
"This is organic matter that incorporates into the food chain in that area, so it would not have negative impacts. However, this is an emergency measure because the ideal solution would have been to remove all the mortality from the water, either reducing it into fishmeal or transferring it to landfills. However, the mortality volume is such that even if we manage to remove over 78 per cent from the affected farming centres, there is a margin that can not be transferred to processing plants or landfills."
For his part, Sernapesca regional director of Los Lagos, Eduardo Aguilera, explained that from the start of the emergency (February 22), the institution has established 24-hour shifts to expedite the removal of 39,000 tonnes of mortality produced by the algae bloom. For this task, 125 boats were used, which made it possible for more than 30,700 tonnes to recover before generating environmental risks.
From Sernapesca it was reported that it is being considered that the 15 companies affected by the bloom have reacted promptly and respecting the procedures established by the Environmental Regulations for Aquaculture and their respective Environmental Qualification Resolutions. If delays or negligence is detected, the Superintendency of Environment will be reported for the due penalties to be imposed.
Related articles:
- 300 tonnes of dead salmon due to harmful algae dumped into sea
- More than 2000 tonnes of salmon converted into fishmeal and fish oil
- Sernapesca monitors dead salmon movement
- Salmon farming shares fall nearly 10pc due to harmful algal event
- Camanchaca loses 1.5 million salmon due to harmful algae
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