According to FishfarmingXpert, the system of mortgages for aquaculture concessions, which might facilitate the issuing of credits on part of the banks, was one of the most polemic topics discussed, with particular regard to the legal clause and privatisation of the sea. Finally, it was approved with 21 votes in favour, 7 against and 2 abstentions.
The article that establishes new sanctions for non-fulfilment of the requirements to maintain and renew concessions was approved with 13 votes in favour, 9 against and 2 abstentions. According to it, concessions will not be renewed if a company has three executed judgments due to antiunion practices within three productive cycles. In spite of that, a renewal chance was included “if a report from the Labour Direction verifies a concessionaire’s blameless labour behaviour subsequent to the events that motivated those sanctions”.
Besides, the norms that regulate concessions’ conferment were approved by 21 votes in favour, 3 against and 5 abstentions, establishing 25-years renewal periods subject to absence of negative environmental reports or fall into one of the other expiring causes established by the legislative bill.
Since publication of the LGPA, concessions’ applications and conferment in the 10th (Los Lagos) and 11th (Aysén) Regions are suspended for those concessions whose technical projects consider fish, excluding those which to date have a technical project approved by the Under-Secretariat of Fisheries. Likewise, the Senate’s Chamber approved with 22 votes in favour, 4 against and 2 abstentions the article that includes the norms related to concessions transference.
Among other articles approved, no natural person, legal entity or person related to them might apply for concessions representing more that 20 per cent of the total Region’s grantable surface.
Finally, the article that establishes the sanitary and environmental obligations was approved with 23 votes in favour and 2 abstentions, which includes a complete package of measures to prevent spread of diseases and their impact over the farming species.
Legislative Bill Approved
CHILE - After discussions yesterday (19 January), the General Law on Fisheries and Aquaculture (LGPA) was finally approved. It will now go to a third legislative stage, when it will be voted at the Deputies Chamber.
