Chile’s Sub-Secretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca) will use a system that allows Chilean salmon farmers to expand or shrink their farm’s production each year based on the amount of antibiotics they use per ton of salmon produced.
According to a report in El Mercurio, the new system was announced following after a review that included comments from Chile’s salmon industry. An initial plan to restrict the permitted densities at existing farms created significant backlash from many in the salmon farming industry. Subpesca presented a revised proposal in October.
Authorities argue that stronger policies are needed to guard against sharp increases in salmon densities and production to avoid future outbreaks of pests or diseases.
The new measures will be implemented in 2019, and will consider individual salmon concessions, not a global average among one farming group. Under the new rules, each salmon farm concession would be allowed to increase its production depending on its total usage of antibiotics.
For example, if a farm uses up to 150 grams of antibiotics per ton, it would be able to grow its future production by nine percent. If antibiotic usage measures between 150 and 300 grams per ton, then the permitted growth would be six percent. For usage of 300 to 600 grams of antibiotics per ton of salmon produced, growth would be restricted to three percent.
Those who use above 600 grams would face a reduction in their permitted salmon densities, the report said.
The new system would also consider any losses occurred at a site. If 14 percent or more of the salmon is lost, then the salmon farmer would have to reduce its salmon density regardless.
Photo courtesy of Subpesca
