Kate Casey
Victor Hugo Puchi’s stance on why Chile’s salmon industry is in the condition that its in, and what must be done to save it (see 10.11.08 – AquaChile speaks of the industry’s ‘mea culpa’) was the first bold statement made on behalf of the industry, capable of admitting to its errors of the past. But most of the SalmonChile associates do not agree with his idea that all egg imports must be stopped in order to prevent more disease from entering Chile. One company in particular, Patagonia Smolt S.A. spoke to the press in rebuttal over the Puchi’s stance regarding egg imports. “It is an extemporaneous claim that the practice of egg imports is synonymous with the import of diseases,” states Rodolfo Infante, general manager of Patagonia Smolt S.A. “Of course no one wants to continue as an importer of disease as Puchi negatively states. This port of entry did in fact exist, but it is not fair to be so incredulous as to not believe in the capability of correcting errors. It is not necessary to close the border on egg imports. Rather, we must only import from those companies that can demonstrate their commitment and their ability to make this business a sustainable activity for everyone involved.” Infante mentioned in Aqua.cl the points most relevant in terms of egg import restrictions:broodstock fish must be raised throughout their entire life cycle in land based recirculation systems with, sourced with water that has not been in contact with fish; and from countries with a clean history regarding contagious disease.
Besides its national production, Patagonia Smolt S.A. imports eggs from the company Icelandic company Stofnfiskur.
