Salmon farmers hope for stability and reduced red tape from new minister
SalmonChile boss also seeking better permitting process
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Fish farming trade body SalmonChile has said that Chilean president-elect Antonio Kast’s appointment of a Cabinet of ministers ahead of his inauguration on March 11 presents an opportunity for the sector.
Kast’s picks include Daniel Mas Valdés, who will serve as the Minister of Economy and Mining and is expected to slash regulations that hold back growth, reports Fish Farming Expert's Chilean sister site, Salmonexpert.cl.
SalmonChile president Arturo Clément said: “We hope that the various ministers with whom the salmon farming industry interacts will gain a deeper understanding of our productive sector, its contribution to the regions, and its strategic importance for the country.
“We believe this is an opportune moment to open spaces for dialogue that will allow us to build a long-term vision for an activity that can be key to the recovery and growth of the national economy.”
Stable regulations
He added that Chile’s salmon sector, the second largest in the world, faces significant challenges that require attention and collaborative work.
“Moving towards a more efficient permitting process, reducing bureaucracy, and having clear and stable regulations are fundamental conditions for the responsible development of our industry. We hope these issues will be a priority on the agenda for the next four years, with the goal of strengthening a sustainable, competitive industry committed to the country's growth,” said Clément.
Mas’ ministry oversees Chile’s Undersecretariat for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Subpesca, which makes policy, and Sernapesca, which enforces regulations.
Knows the sector's problems
Although he is not an expert on salmon industry issues, those in the sector say that, as vice president of the Confederation of Production and Commerce, he was closely involved with issues related to the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Service (BPAS), the Lafkenche Law that enables indigenous people to apply for control of huge areas of coastal waters, and the role of NGOs. Therefore, they indicate, he understands the strategies for improving the sector's competitiveness.
But Kast and Mas will not have it all their own way when the new government is installed in a few weeeks.
Kast, a hardline conservative, will assume office without an absolute majority in Congress and will need to form coalitions with right-wing and centrist parties. The Senate is evenly divided, and the balance of power in the lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, rests with the populist People's Party.
