The “salmon round table” update

Kate Casey 

According to Economic Minister Hugo Lavados, his salmon round table led by ex-Undersecretary of Fisheries Felipe Sandoval, will announce its new measures on how to resolve the sanitary crisis affecting the salmon industry; a situation that has gotten worse than expected in recent months due to the socio-economic impacts that have coincided with the industry’s drop in production. According to the Diario Financiero Minister Lavados expects concrete solutions proposed from his work group by the end of the month, regarding three main issues: the management of all types of medications; the management of all types of wastes; and the management of the production chain from the egg stage to the harvest stage. Lavados also announced that he would have by the end of the month a proposal regarding the mechanisms that will be available to apply for financial guarantees offered to salmon companies struggling for credit. Lavados has already approved the distribution of US$ 125 million for salmon companies in need of financial backing (See 04.11.08 - Government guarantees US$125 million to aid salmon industry). Regarding the integrated work of his round table Lavados states, “This program cannot be taken lightly. It has aspects that are very complicated and have many interactions, and to develop a good program we have to take are time to do it well.”

The salmon round table was created in May of this year.