Ecobreves – CHILE: Warning on Salmon Farms in Earthquake Zone

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

SANTIAGO, Sep 8 2007 (IPS) - The environmental group Oceana has urged the Chilean government to take a cautionary attitude in taking a decision to renew authorization for raising salmon in floating cages in the Aysén fjord, 1,600 km south of the capital. The area was evacuated Apr. 21 after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake and a subsequent tsunami caused a landslide that left 10 people dead, five of whose remains were never recovered.

“The companies are pressing for permission to return, but the earthquakes haven't stopped,” Oceana's Cristián Gutiérrez told Tierramérica. “We believe that the fjord should remain closed until a serious study is conducted to determine if workers would face any dangers,” he said.