Marine Harvest Chile is continuing its efforts to recover some of the 690,000 coho salmon that escaped after a storm at a fishery in Southern Chile. As of 17 July, the firm has recovered 5.7 percent of the escaped salmon, and the firm’s 30-day period to carry out its recovery ticks away.
According to a report in Bio Bio Chile, authorities with Chile’s fishery service Sernapesca have certified the recovery of 37,000 salmon since the incident. Press reports have expressed concern that some 460,000 of the escaped salmon had recently received an antibiotic treatment and could bring negative effects to the environment. An estimated 250,000 salmon were able to be moved during the storm, which led to the escape.
Chilean law establishes that the company has 30 days to recover at least 10 percent of the escape, or face penalties for environmental damages.
In a statement made to Radio Sago, Marine Harvest clarified that 80 percent of the recovered salmon did not show traces of antibiotics. The company said that the salmon involved in the escape, which occurred at its Punta Redonda center near the Huar Island, had been treated with Florfenicol. This antibiotic is used for veterinary applications, and according to the statement presents a low potential to generate antibiotic resistance in humans.
Three of the 10 cages affected by the storm had received a treatment 24 hours before the incident. Another six had received a treatment, but the effects had run their course, and one cage did not receive applications, the company said. The company also thanked artisan fishers who have been employed in the rescue efforts.
Arturo Clement, the president of SalmonChile, the country’s salmon industry association, told La Tercera the escape was “an unfortunate incident.”
“It’s … very unprecedented for the industry and we hope the company’s actions show good results,” Clement said. “Obviously, we are concerned and in permanent communication with authorities and the company to learn the details of the accident as well as the recovery effort.”
As a report in Diario Financiero pointed out, the scale of this escape is unprecedented. Marine Harvest Chile suffered 15 escape incidents in 2017, but for a total of 23,223 escaped salmon. In 2016, a total of 11 escape incidents were reported, involving 12,790 salmon.
The company faces fines of up to USD 227,000 (EUR 195,000) if found guilty of causing environmental damages, plus the potential additional penalty of losing farming concessions. Even if it avoids paying fines for the escape, it will cost the company dearly. Experts estimated the value of the lost biomass of salmon at USD 7 to 14 million (EUR 6 to 12 million), according to Diario Financiero.
Photo courtesy of Radio Sago
