Salmonid farming centre of Aguas Claras. (Photo: Stock File)

Half-a-mln trout escape from Aguas Claras pens

CHILE
Thursday, January 08, 2009, 22:50 (GMT + 9)

An escape of rainbow trout from two Aguas Claras farming centres follows the recently reported escape of around 190,000 farmed salmonids from Mainstream pens located in Seno de Reloncavi in the region of Los Lagos.

Strong southern winds and waves generated by poor climatic conditions collapsed the raft-pens in the centres located in Hualaihue and Calbuco.

The first centre affected by the salmon escape was Mainstream's Chidguapi 2, preliminary National Fisheries Service (SERNAPESCA) data revealed. 

"But to that we must add the situation of the Aguas Claras company, [which] had two centres affected as well by the poor climatic conditions. Entry to the centres had been postponed until 2 January as a result of the ports being closed and the Maritime Authority not granting access. The afflicted centres are the centre at Queten in the Hualaihue Municipality and the centre at Queullin in the Calbuco Municipality,” SERNAPESCA Regional Director Francisco Fernandez explained.

For now, estimates of sustained losses owing to the trout escape is unknown, the official said.

With respect to the salmonid escape, Mainstream general manager Ricardo Klaassen indicated “the fish population at the time of the event was 190,000 in total in the affected cages, which had an average weight of approximately 4.5 kilos." The centre was in the midst of its harvest period.

So far, close to 100,000 salmon – found in good health and without any signs of the infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) virus – have been recovered, Klaassen reported to El Llanquihue.

Fernandez indicated that the affected firms have 15 days to submit all the information regarding the fish escapes.

Meanwhile, the non-governmental organisation Oceana asked that SERNAPESCA make a public announcement as to the “magnitude and sanitary consequences” of the mass salmon escape from the Mainstream plant.

“It is urgent that we have regulations in place for salmon escapes that oblige companies to prevent, inform and lessen such escapes and that, in addition, establishes sanctions when these have been intentional or negligent,” said the NGO's executive director, Alex Munoz.

In a letter sent to SERNAPESCA authorities, the international organisation for marine conservation asked for information on the stage of growth in which the salmons are found; their sanitary condition – especially whether or not they have been infected with the ISA virus or another illness - and the type of treatments to which they were being subjected.

He also requested information on the company's and government's contingency plans established regarding incidents of this kind, El Mostrador reported.

Munoz remarked on the serious environmental issues associated with salmon escapes: "As [newly] introduced and exotic species, [escapes] severely impact the ecosystem and local marine species."

Related article:

- Salmon escape from Mainstream farm in the thousands

By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

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