In this case, the National Confederation of Artisan Fishermen of Chile (Conapach) has been mobilizing since mid August against the modifications to the Fishing and Aquaculture Law. Last Wednesday, in Puerto Mont city, tens of unionists met to define a strategy to fight against those modifications.

The president of Conapach, Zoila Bustamante, said that the meetings held between the union and lawmakers were useful to introduce a few changes into the modification project, but not all the changes needed.

According to Conapach´s website, Bustamante highlighted that in case measures to protect the territories which have historically belonged to artisan fishing are not implemented, this activity “could disappear right before our eyes”.

Conapach “is not willing to let that happen” and will organize themselves to raise their demands, she stated. One of the things the workers are demanding is that the State grants areas for the artisan fishermen to manage.

One of the senators who voted against the modification of the law was Nelson Avila, from the centre-left wing party Partido Radical Social Demócrata (PRSD).

According to Ecoceanos News, Avila does not agree with the continued support and guarantees for salmon companies, since they “couldn´t carry out a sustainable economic activity and have caused severe environmental damage”. “I do not agree with rewarding them”, he concluded.

Photo: http://www.gourmet.com