A salmon farming company has been heavily fined for being responsible for the escape of hundreds of thousands of antibiotic-stuffed fish into the wild waters.
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6.6 million dollars, or 6 million francs. This is the fine imposed by the Chilean environmental protection service on the Norwegian salmon farming company Mowi. Reason: “irreparable environmental damage” linked to the escape of around 690,000 fish in 2018.
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It is the largest fine for an environmental offense ever imposed in the South American country. The Environmental Superintendent (SMA) sanctioned Mowi, previously known as Marina Harvest, on Friday for two misdemeanors.
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The first, described as “very serious” by the SMA, caused “irrecoverable environmental damage, produced by the massive flight of salmon” from the Punta Redonda breeding center, in the region of Los Lagos (about 1000 km from Santiago) in the wild waters. It earned the company the fine of 5,300 million pesos, or $ 6.6 million.
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Pathogens and diseases
The second offense, considered minor, concerns the “lack of adequate facilities to eliminate fish mortality” and amounts to 2.7 million pesos (approximately $ 3,400).
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The salmon, which were being treated with an antibiotic unfit for human consumption, had leaked due to defects in the containment cages. These had been damaged by a storm which had hit the breeding center.
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The danger to the environment lies in the fact that these salmon are an invasive and predatory species which causes a decrease in the number of endemic species in the region, alters the marine habitat and endangers the fauna and salmon from other breeding centers due to the possibility of transmitting pathogens and diseases, according to the SMA.
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Repair plan
Mowi, who did not react to the sanction, will also have to present a proposal for a repair plan supported by an environmental technical study. She has 15 days to appeal to environmental justice.
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