The Chilean Environmental Superintendency (SMA) has initiated a sanctioning procedure against Blumar SA.
La Superintendencia del Medio Ambiente (SMA).
The Chilean Environmental Superintendency (SMA) has initiated a sanctioning procedure against Blumar SA due to overproduction at the Córdova 1 Salmon Farming Center (CES), located in the Kawésqar National Reserve, in the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Region.
The SMA has confirmed that the raw material processed from the above center during 2019-2021 cycle corresponded to a biomass of 6,337.3 tons harvested and a mortality of 202.6 tons, reaching a total production of 6,540 tons, exceeding the authorized amount by 665 tons (11%) as per its Environmental Qualification Resolution (RCA).
This comes after the complaints filed by the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) against Blumar in 2023.
For this reason, the SMA considers that all production in excess of the RCA limit constitutes a "serious" violation that lacks both sectorial and environmental authorization and is carried out within a state-protected wildlife area.
Finally, the Superintendent of the Environment, Marie Claude Plumer has emphasized the importance that oversight of the aquaculture sector holds for the public service: "Thanks to this, today we can say that there is better knowledge of the activity and, therefore, greater certainty for verifying compliance with the obligations that the holders of this sector have."
SMA sent in January the first mass notification of the year to holders of 223 CES. The centers notified were located in the southern part of the country: 89 in the Los Lagos Region, 97 in the Aysén Region, and 37 in the Magallanes Region.
The report included the production estimate to date and its evaluation of the maximum limit authorized in the respective RCA.
The consequences of the sanction can be the revocation of the environmental qualification resolution, closure, or a fine of up to 5,000 Annual Tax Units (UTA).
In addition, the Supreme Court of Chile determined in mid May that Blumar and Multiexport committed repeat offenses regarding surveillance of Infectious Salmon Anemia Virus (ISA) in farming centers.