Salmon industry and climate change

Christian Pérez Fernando Frías, chief of the Climate Change Office of the Chilean Ministry of the Environment believes that this country is highly vulnerable to environmental changes. Higher temperatures and less rainfall compared to previous years are the most remarkable forecasts. As a consequence of these changes, Fernando Frías considers that there will be a higher sea level in the Chilean coast with relevant impact over the fish farming industry. Relocation of sites due to higher salinity in estuaries might be one the expected results. Besides, he thinks there could be a significant increase in the presence of fish diseases and parasites. Mr. Frías believes that the spread of sea lice would be fostered by the higher sea temperatures, for example, the local newspaper El Llanquihue reports. For these reasons, the ministries of the Environment and Agriculture have prepared an adaptation plan for the local agricultural industry -which is expected to be approved in the second half of this year. Likewise, both ministeries would be working in contingency plans intended for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.