For Immediate Release
June 30, 2021
BUENOS AIRES — The Provincial Legislature of Tierra del Fuego in Argentina unanimously approved a bill today that bans salmon farming in marine cages.
Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost province of Argentina, is the only viable location in Argentina for this type of salmon farming, therefore, today’s vote effectively positioned Argentina as the first country to ban this intensive and environmentally destructive industry.
Salmon farming is the farming and harvesting of salmonids, under controlled conditions, for commercial purposes. Salmon farming in cages is only possible in cold-water environments that are often fragile yet rich in biodiversity. Consequences of salmon farming include massive salmon mortalities, intensification of toxic algae blooms (such as red tide), introduction of exotic species, the loss of local fauna, generation of dead zones, entanglement of marine mammals and bacterial resistance. According to a Just Economics report, the salmon industry seeks to grow fivefold over the next 10 years, threatening the waters of the Beagle Channel.
In 2019, the Argentine government and the government of the Tierra del Fuego province signed an agreement with Norway to develop salmon production in cages. The salmon industry was not welcomed by Tierra del Fuego residents, who joined neighboring Chilean communities, environmental nonprofits, and the outdoor apparel brand Patagonia to call for ocean protection. As a result of their advocacy, the government decided to put a temporary halt to the project. Today, provincial Legislator Pablo Villegas and Vice Governor Mónica Urquiza presented a bill to finally ban the salmon industry by law, and it was unanimously approved.
The number of coastal communities questioning this industry grows steadily. In the United States, Canada, Scotland, Iceland, Tasmania and Norway, local communities oppose to the installation of cages, and although they have long sought to remove them from their fjords and channels, this is the first time a government has banned the industry. Importantly, today’s historic decision is a blueprint for Chile, where salmon farming has a strong presence in the regions of Los Lagos and Magallanes, and even in the Kawésqar National Reserve and the Alberto Agostini Park.
By saying no to the salmon farming industry, Argentina is showing that the urgency of the environmental crisis we are facing can be addressed through the design of policies that identify scenarios, build consensus, and define a course of action to achieve the common good over sectoral interests. Tierra del Fuego successfully anticipated and listened to residents, choosing to preserve one of Earth’s last pristine lungs and the identity and culture of the province, setting a precedent for the rest of the world.
Relevant Quotes
Legislator Pablo Villegas stated: "I think it’s important to point out that the message is clear: if we work with our head and heart, with conviction, commitment, passion, and responsibility, that translates into achievements. Saying ‘No’ to salmon farms is possible."
David Alday, representative of the Yagán community—the original inhabitants of this southernmost point of the world—said: “Thirty years from now, I see an abundant archipelago full of different species and surrounded by national parks, strong, with a powerful vision and a powerful message to the world about how we must care and support our nature. I see us navigating, I see us free, the artisanal fisherman doing his job as he always has done, and above all, an uninterrupted Onashaga, with nothing obstructing the landscape. Being optimistic, this area is a great example for the universe. Here, we are not fighting for a community but the positive effects of these decisions on a global level."
Yvon Chouinard, founder of outdoor apparel brand Patagonia, said: “Today’s historic vote shows the people of Argentina value wild salmon, biodiversity and local communities over a reckless industry that’s bankrupting our oceans. Coastal communities should take notice of what happened in Argentina and follow their lead. A life without nature is not a life worth living, and that is where we are headed if we don’t act now.”
Martina Sasso, one of the leaders on Rewilding Argentina Sin Azul No Hay Verde Foundation’s marine program, founded by Kris and Douglas Tompkins, said: "This legislation confirms that if we get involved and actively work as a society based on what unites us, everything is possible. All changes are meaningful, if we can convince a legislator or a leader of our community to do things differently, we are changing the world."
Francis Mallmann, a leading chef and activist on this cause, said: "To have navigated the Beagle Channel alongside the descendants of the native people who harvested fruits in this pristine place for thousands of years, and to be able to keep it as it is, adds respect for our traditions and a healthier planet. I think we are close to a radical change in the salmon farming industry. Younger people are closer than ever. There is an ethical leitmotif that unites them without borders. They are showing us that they have very different ambitions from ours: for them, the most important thing is the planet. Stubborn and strong, step by step, they will change the course of destruction. For them, the planet must be a single sustainable farm, responsibly cared for by all.”
Booker Prize-winning Australian novelist, Richard Flanagan, who’s also the author of Toxic, a book about the salmon industry in Tasmania, stated: "Argentina has in Patagonia one of the last great places of wonder in the world. Industrial salmon farming will destroy it and, with it, a better future for all Argentinians. The gains are few and only for the executives and investors, while the losses will be immense, eternal and diminish your nation. Argentina can be a world leader by saying no to a rapacious folly that is becoming discredited in country after country and be applauded globally for its courageous vision. And when people come to see what was saved, they will also mourn what has been lost in Chile, in Norway, in Scotland, in Canada, and my home island of Tasmania—and they will wish their governments had shown the wisdom of Argentina.”
In this context, the Chilean Comptroller's Office detected a series of shortcomings in the chain of supervision that different bodies must exercise over the activity. "The fishing and aquaculture law needs to be reformulated and there are many challenges to make it more socially and environmentally responsible. It is essential to separate small-scale aquaculture from the debate on salmon farming and put much more control and sanction initiatives over salmon farming or intensive aquaculture in general. And in terms of budget, the State must provide funds for auditing both to the Superintendence of the Environment (SMA) and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (SERNAPESCA)," says Flavia Liberona, biologist and Executive Director of Fundación Terram.
Alexandra Morton, an independent biologist and author of Not on My Watch. How a Renegade Biologist Took on Government and Industry to save Wild Salmon, stated: “Here in British Columbia I lost my community, the whales I was studying left, the wild salmon died off, and the toxic algae blooms began. They are ruthless bullies who sing such a sweet song that no one figures out who they really are until it is too late. I have fought this industry for 35 years. The damage to British Columbia is catastrophic. We are pushing it out of our waters, but I fear it is too late.”
Don Staniford, head of the Global Alliance Against Industrial Aquaculture, said: "I have been fighting the global salmon farming industry for over two decades and the tide is now turning against this toxic industry. Salmon cages are a malignant cancer on our coasts which urgently need to be ripped out. This is a watershed victory in Argentina which will make waves around the world. A global ban on open net cage salmon farming can help safeguard the health of our global ocean and the health of our children for generations to come.”
Media contacts:
Guillermo Schulmeier | +54 9 11 5325 9168 | guillermo@emprendia.net
Carolina Arriagada | + 54 9 11 56120642 | carolina@emprendia.net
Resources:
Link to YouTube video of today’s vote
