By: Peter Hartmann
(Read news in Aisen Reserva de Vida)
Last week more than one hundred civil society organizations demanded the government to implement the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, David Boyd, who after knowing the reality of the salmon industry in our country in 2023 and in view of its growth of 117% annually, issued a report in which it can be read that: "Salmon farming is one of the main threats to the environment facing Patagonia, especially the Kawésqar National Park, which is a danger to the conservation of species and ecosystems, including thirty-two species of cetaceans". And that: "the salmon industry has contributed to the increase of industrial waste on the beaches, water and seabed", recommending to the government "a moratorium on the expansion of salmon aquaculture, pending an independent scientific analysis of the adverse environmental impacts" of this industry, 80% of whose production is destined for export. It would not be the first time that this industry collides with human rights, already in 2021 another report was issued, this time by the National Institute of Human Rights, INDH, and its Danish counterpart.
The Special Rapporteur's report was sarcastically commented by C. Odebret, President of the colonial salmon farmers in Magallanes, disqualifying it with his typical arrogance of a marine estate owner, alluding that they do not occupy the Kawésqar National Park but only 0.1% of the National Reserve of the same name and that there has been a moratorium in place for years. The issue is that, once again, they forget that the Kawésqar National Reserve borders the park (and should be part of it), that both are interrelated, that pollution, leaks, and damage to biodiversity affect far beyond their concessions and evidently also the park, and that there is a reason why Article 67 of the Law of Fisheries and Aquaculture states that the Zoning of the Coastal Border must establish an exclusion zone for salmon farms on the marine borders of terrestrial national parks. This, in addition to the illegal occupation of the A. De Agostini National Park, is a clear example of this. De Agostini National Park by the contumacious salmon farm owned by Norwegian banks, Nova Austral, which, by the way, he conveniently forgets. And with respect to the moratorium, how do you explain the 117% annual growth of this industry when there is a moratorium? Something smells fishy, doesn't it? And there is a reason for the industry's insistence on occupying the Kawésqar Reserve. Moreover, Odebret should know that one of the weak points of its industry is precisely the international one, where, among others, Chilean salmon has a lower price than that of other producers. Could it be that Chilean salmon does not have very good prestige in more demanding markets? Could it be that this industry should take care of its international image where its mafia-like behavior, the one they use here, does not serve them and rather harms them?
The 2021 report of the INDH and the Danish Institute for Human Rights "Salmon Industry in Chile and Human Rights" contains the following findings: Human rights violations in three areas: labor, socio-environmental and issues related to indigenous peoples. In the labor area, the report includes low salaries, shift systems that affect family life and mental health, contracts that jeopardize vacations, the level of physical health and unionization, as well as women's rights to health, poor sanitary conditions and the rights of pregnant women and protection against sexual harassment. Regarding the environment and indigenous peoples, problems with community water and its free access, its contamination and the fact that their voice is not taken into account are reported. In addition, there are companies installed in indigenous areas and it is reported that the native peoples, the State and companies understand development differently. In addition, projects are qualified with Environmental Statements when in many cases they require Environmental Assessment Studies. This report also calls on the State to get involved with a greater commitment and establish an adequate regulatory framework for the industry.
Regarding labor rights, it is worth adding to the above, that last month again there was a worker killed (murdered) and one seriously injured in this industry whose working conditions are far from safe. In fact, since 2013 until last month, at least 75 workers have died in farming centers, plants and transportation of the salmon industry.
And regarding Magallanes and the Kawésqar National Reserve, Odebret is also alarming that CONAF and the Universidad Austral have received funds from the PEW Charitable Trust for studies of the reserve's Management Plan. The truth is that about half of the salmon farms in Magallanes are transnationals, installed in and on the edge of national parks (67% are in protected areas), And they are upset because they have to resort to international funds (which there are none here) to carry out studies (of those mentioned by the UN Rapporteur) to end with the "law of fishing on the river" of operating irresponsibly in places unknown to science, qualified as "unique ecoregion worldwide"! Undoubtedly, this is another attempt at intimidation, which will surely be accompanied with the typical pressures and lies of that industry that we already know, all this to accommodate the management plan to their liking.