Chile's Ventisqueros revises its story, confirms escape

Damage to two salmon cages owned by Chilean salmon farmer Ventisqueros was reported at the end of December 2018 by Chilean fishery authorities and now, despite prior claims by the company that no escapes had occurred, the firm is acknowledging that over 25,000 salmon did escape.

Chile`s national fisheries and aquaculture service Sernapesca had filed two reports for two separate escapes that occurred at Ventisqueros facilities at the end of 2018. However, the company responded saying although damage had occurred due to high tides, no salmon escaped.

Sernapesca did not agree and posted photos online of salmon around the farms in question. 

The company has now revised its response. In a statement published in La Tercera, Ventisqueros clarified that the two incidents were not connected, and that high tides resulted in the damage at its Tubildad and Chincui farms. 

Only in the case of Tubildad did the company find that there were any escapes. A further revision at the facilities found that around 2.7 percent of that center’s harvest had escaped, roughly 26,830 salmon, or 0.9 percent of its total harvest.

The company defended its actions and said that it adopted all established contingency protocols and delivered information to Sernapesca. Moreover, the firm said that, “just as Sernapesca had confirmed, it was a minor escape that involved fish in the harvest process and free of antibiotics.” 

In the case of Chincui, the company said that there was no damage to its nets or structure, and that its stock of fish did not show any differences. 

The company also expressed regret for the incidents that occurred, but reiterated that it has been fully compliment with authorities in the matter. Sernapesca has not publicly addressed the amended position of the firm.