Chile's Government Will Not Review Concessions

Minister of Economy, Hugo Lavados, forecast an unsuccessful future for the main industrial associations efforts to convince the Government about an adjustment to one of the most complex modifications that would changed the LGPA (General Law on Fisheries and Aquaculture or Ley General de Pesca y Acuicultura), related with the time limit for the aquaculture concessions.

According to Fishfarming Xpert, the Secretary of State is reported by Diario Financiero reports to have said: "The project is at the Parliament and there is being discussed so we will not debate it with the industrial associations."

Mr Lavados losed the door to any further review of the 25-year time limit to the concessions as well as any chance of separating that issue from the original text.

"The time limit for the aquaculture concessions was approved unanimously at the Senate's Fisheries Commission and we are deeply convinced that is a subject that will not affect the concessions value so it doesn't have any problems and we will not replace it," he stated, adding that in his estimation there have been "several tactical mistakes in the project negotiation" that have influenced the legislative action with negative effects to the salmon producers that will be measured and communicated within the next days.

The Confederation for Production and Commerce (CPC) and the Federation of Chilean Industry (Sofofa) have supported the Chilean salmon industry interests in meetings with Ministers and Senators in an attempt to revoke this modification.