Court of Appeals Orders Sernapesca to Provide Information about Antibiotics Used in the Salmon Farming Industry in Chile - Oceana

Victory | June 1, 2016

Court of Appeals Orders Sernapesca to Provide Information about Antibiotics Used in the Salmon Farming Industry in Chile

In response to an Oceana filing, the Court of Appeals of Santiago ordered the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service of Chile (Sernapesca) to publish information, disaggregated by company, concerning the use of antibiotics in Chilean salmon farming. Oceana filed a claim for the public disclosure of information after 37 companies and Sernapesca refused to disclose antibiotics data on the grounds of “competitive and business risk.” In compliance with the court order, Sernapesca released a report on company’s use of antibiotics in the salmon farming industry throughout 2015. Although additional information and statistics are needed to thoroughly analyze and assess industry operation, the report’s release sets an important precedent for access to public information.  Citizens and stakeholders can use this information to demand more responsible management and aquaculture practices.