Southernmost region expresses concern over salmon influx
The Ultima Esperanza Province of the Magallanes Region (also known as Region XII) is strongly valued for its economic opportunity in terms of aquaculture, artisan fishing, and tourism – three activities that have managed to coexist over many years. But since the salmon industry’s ISA crisis in the Lakes Region (Region X), the magnitude of the demand for salmon farming licenses in the Ultima Esperanza Province have provoked the tourism and local fishery sectors to solicit help from the Governor to protect their interests. According to Mundo Acuicola, Carolina Goic, Governor of Chile’s Magallanes Region expressed in a parliament meeting her concern over the influx of salmon farming activity within Ultima Esperanza. “One of our many concerns with respect to the salmon farming sector is the number of farming licenses being solicited throughout the bays and inlets of Ultima Esperanza, and the urgent need to determine criteria that will allow for the coexistence of traditional fishing, tourism and aquaculture in a territory with an historical and undeniable value for the tourism sector.” So far there are 200 salmon farming licenses pending approval in the Province and 800 in total throughout the entire Region XII.
