Representatives of the Chilean government this week signed a public-private agreement with Cooke Aquaculture and AquaChile to relocate nine aquaculture concessions. Chile's Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca) said the agreement involves going ahead decisively to move aquaculture concessions out of national parks and adjacent areas.
In particular, the Subpesca release noted that three of the four national parks and adjacent areas where there is still industrial aquaculture activity will be free of salmon farming thanks to the commitment of two of the three companies that operate there.
Chile's Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture remarked that the agreement is the result of "intense intersectoral work." Specifically, four ministerial departments have signed the deal together with Cooke Aquaculture and AquaChile, two of the three aquaculture companies that have activities in these areas.
The Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism, Nicolás Grau, his counterpart for the Environment, Maisa Rojas, the Undersecretary for the Armed Forces, Galo Eidelstein, the Undersecretary for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Julio Salas, and the general managers of AquaChile, Sady Delgado, and of Cooke Aquaculture Chile, Andrés Parodi, were responsible for signing the commitment.
The first two aquaculture concessions to be relocated outside national parks will be 'Exploradores' and 'Huillines 1' farms, belonging to Cooke Aquaculture. The move had already been approved by the Undersecretariat of the Armed Forces.
The text of the agreement, which was signed at the Law School of the University of Valparaíso, states the relocation of the nine aquaculture concessions that operate in or near the Magdalena Island, San Rafael Lagoon, and Bernardo O'Higgins National Parks will be the priority. It also points out that "relocations will not imply the entry of such concessions into other categories of protected areas."
In addition, the commitment between the Chilean government, Cooke Aquaculture and AquaChile states that while the relocation of the concessions is being carried out, the different State entities will coordinate to respect the acquired rights and the development of the activity within the current regulations. They will also work on "a road map that considers this and other specific matters to continue advancing in the development and sustainable growth of the industry."
Less than a month ago, Julio Salas, Chile's Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture, called on the salmon industry to seek "broad agreements" to advance the development of the sector. A point now highlighted by SalmonChile.
"Good news for our sector, where we want to highlight the importance of dialogue with the authorities. We firmly believe that the development of aquaculture in Chile and the care of the environment are totally compatible," said the Chilean Salmon Industry Association valuing the agreement on its LinkedIn page.
"This agreement allows that, in three of the four national parks, we define a clear path so that salmon farming can move to other areas that are not protected areas," said the Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism, Nicolás Grau.
Grau also highlighted that this deal allows them to advance in the fulfillment of one of the most relevant commitments of the President of the Republic in this matter and shows the path to follow. "A path of dialogue, of public-private articulation, which allows us on the one hand to continue strengthening a very relevant economic sector, which is the salmon farming sector and aquaculture in general, and, on the other hand, to protect the environment and thus find a balanced and sustainable development of this industry."
For her part, the Minister of the Environment, Maisa Rojas, said that "this protocol agreement is a demonstration that we can sit at the same table to work together and we can agree on common objectives. As a country, we need the industry to take decisive steps towards sustainability".
Finally, the Undersecretary of the Armed Forces, Galo Eidelstein, said that the signing of agreements between the public and private sectors makes it possible to consolidate more robust communities and dialogue in coastal areas. "The above, generates adequate conditions for security and defense in our country," said Eidelstein. "The Ministry of National Defense will continue to be available to advance this type of initiative."