Indications are that earthquake damages to Cermaq and Austevoll have been limited. (Photo: Stock File/FIS)

Cermaq and Austevoll report limited Chile earthquake damage

CHILE
Wednesday, March 03, 2010, 00:30 (GMT + 9)

Two leading seafood companies of Norway Cermaq and Austevoll have commented on casualties and damage caused by Saturday’s earthquake in central Chile.

Fish feed and salmon farming company Cermaq say that the area with most damage affecting them is in in Coronel where its aquafeed unit EWOS has around 250 employees in its factory. Current information provides no reports on physical casualties on their employees and limited damage to property.

They said: “The EWOS feed plant is located in Coronel, close to Concepción, and limited information has been available due to the communication infrastructure being down. With regards to company personnel, no physical casualties have been reported so far. However, as we have not been able to get in contact with all our employees, it is to early conclude on the situation for our personnel."

“A preliminary review suggests limited damages on the feed plant, which may indicate restart of production within a reasonable time. EWOS has finished goods stocked in Puerto Montt that were not affected by the earth quake and this warehouse may serve EWOS’ customers for one week. Measures to secure supply to EWOS’ customers beyond that have been initiated."

“The impact from the earth quake in the X and XI regions where Mainstream farming operations are located has been limited. No sea sites seem affected and only minor damage has been reported in our fresh water facilities. Harvesting will be postponed for a few days to ensure that road transport is running properly. This will not impact materially on the operations."

“Based on current information Cermaq expects the financial impact to be limited. Our primary effort now is to ensure the safety of and support to our employees.”

The fisheries company, Austevoll Seafood group says that it has has many activities and employees in Chile. The group has its land-based activities in the area south of the epicentre of the earthquake, in the town of Coronel.

They said: “The devastation caused by the earthquake is enormous, and the human suffering is great. Our thoughts go to the people of Chile, our friends and colleagues and their families.

"We have succeeded in establishing contact with our management in Chile, and as far as they know at this time none of our employees have been killed. Presently it is too early to give precise and exact information about how many days a possible production stop will last. The company will come back with more information after our technical personnel have gone through the facilities. The activities in Chile are, independently of the earthquake, limited at this time of the year.”

By Denise Recalde
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

Print