Chile Bans Salmon Farming in Large Pristine Area in Chilean Patagonia | Oceana

Victory | September 14, 2010

Chile Bans Salmon Farming in Large Pristine Area in Chilean Patagonia

As a direct result of Oceana’s campaigning, The Chilean Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture withdrew its proposal to establish five salmon farms in Tortel, one of the last free from industrial salmon production. Additionally, salmon farming was permanently excluded from the allowed uses for the future in these pristine fjords. The decision comes as a major victory for the people of Tortel and their waters. The proposal caused widespread concern among national and international environmental organizations, tourism-related groups in the Aysen Region and the local Tortel community itself in fear of damaging pristine ecosystems and impairing the tourism-driven economy. The Chilean government withdrew its proposal after citing salmon farming as being inconsistent with the reliance on tourism in the region. Salmon farms can cause pollution, introduce disease into ecosystems and carry implications for human health, and Oceana has long advocated against them in Chile. Oceana applauds the government’s decision, citing that thAs a direct result of Oceana’s campaigning, The Chilean Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture withdrew its proposal to establish five salmon farms in Tortel, one of the last free from industrial salmon production. Additionally, salmon farming was permanently excluded from the allowed uses for the future in these pristine fjords. The decision comes as a major victory for the people of Tortel and their waters. The proposal caused widespread concern among national and international environmental organizations, tourism-related groups in the Aysen Region and the local Tortel community itself in fear of damaging pristine ecosystems and impairing the tourism-driven economy. The Chilean government withdrew its proposal after citing salmon farming as being inconsistent with the reliance on tourism in the region. Salmon farms can cause pollution, introduce disease into ecosystems and carry implications for human health, and Oceana has long advocated against them in Chile. Oceana applauds the government’s decision, citing that they’ve created a path for sustainable development and upholding the desires’ of local people.