Juan Luis Ansoleaga stresses the importance of setting objective parameters. (Photo: Sernapesca/FIS)

'Salmon farming health responsibilities should not be neglected,' warns Sernapesca

CHILE
Tuesday, October 30, 2012, 04:30 (GMT + 9)

The director of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca), Juan Luis Ansoleaga, explained that the salmon industry is in good condition.

However, he warned that the industrial sector and authorities "must not neglect our responsibilities" in the salmon farming health area.

Ansoleaga stressed, "We are concerned about the beginning of the period of warm temperatures."

"For this reason, some diseases affecting salmon can appear or reappear after having been dormant for the winter," said the authority.

These risks recommend more frequent health inspections of the salmon firms and a greater rigour in the information that entrepreneurs of the sector usually deliver to the Service regarding the conditions under which they are operating their farms.

To Ansoleaga, this background "is extremely important because what Sernapesca does is to integrate information and set objective parameters that ultimately, are useful for the activity of the entrepreneurs of the sector," the Service reported in a press release.

"I'm not saying that it will happen, but if we were to have a virus outbreak of infectious salmon anemia (ISA), our ability to respond effectively and promptly would be ensured by working together and continuously coordinating efforts among all the actors in salmon farming and where each one supports their part," continued the national director of Sernapesca.

"As the saying goes, a chain is not stronger than its weakest link. And then what we have to do is a string with all its links robustly built," he said.

Meanwhile, by 29 October the Chilean government intends to propose more than 50 indications in matters relating to the Fisheries Bill in the Senate.

This was announced by the head of the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca), Pablo Galilea, and the Economy Minister Pablo Longueira.

A few days ago, the Senate Chamber generally approved the bill, which aims to achieve the sustainability of fisheries resources by a large majority.

The initiative was to be moved to the Fisheries Committee of the Upper House to be analyzed in its particular items.

"We have made every effort to tour the country's fishing coves and explain the contents of this act," Longueira stated.

Related article:

- Fisheries Act generates different positions in government and industry

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

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