Following President Michelle Bachelet’s official announcement of a “financial rescue package” designed to get the salmon industry back on a cleaner track, SalmonChile’s president César Barros told the Diario Financiero that he was satisfied with the government’s effort. Barros adds however that this is just the start, and he is still concerned about how government support will be distributed. On the other hand the news source Mundo Acuicola strongly criticized the governments favoritism regarding the salmon sector. “No one argues that the salmon industry is viable, but in this moment of great uncertainty the country should conserve its [financial] resources. The salmon businessmen themselves should assume more responsibility for their actions and the situation they are in. This exceptional treatment on behalf of the State is justifiable only for social considerations, for temporary job support in regions where other employment opportunities are very limited.”As for the reality of the State’s rescue package for the salmon industry, US$ 120 million will be provided to financial institutions as credit guarantee money, so that banks can rest assured in granting loans to their customary salmon company clients. The string attached to the guarantee money however is that is applicable only for loans intended for investment in sanitary improvements in production (such as recirculation systems, effluent waste treatment, wellboat usage, etc.) and eligible companies will be allowed a US$ 8 million limit.
