Greenpeace criticizes the Norwegian kings for the advance of the salmon industry

Greenpeace criticizes the Norwegian kings for the advance of the salmon industry



Greenpeace activists protested Saturday against King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway in the Chilean city of Punta Arenas (south) for the serious environmental consequences that the expansion of the Norwegian salmon industry in southern Chile has.

The monarchs began on Tuesday an official state visit to Chile for six days as part of the celebration of 100 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In the agenda of his visit was the visit to one of the southernmost areas of the planet, such as Puerto Williams, in the region of Magallanes, 3,600 kilometers south of the Chilean capital, to support new salmon farming projects with Norwegian presence that is expected to start operating in that place this year.

In the framework of an official act with the authorities of Punta Arenas, the Norwegian kings were greeted with cries of "no to the salmon farmers", "the people, consciously defends the environment", and banners of "welcome kings, but their salmon no ", among other claims, by environmentalists.

"The protesters oppose the promotion of the salmon industry in the Magallanes region - where Punta Arenas is located - which has already affected many communities in the Puerto Natale area and which is now settling in Puerto Williams as a threat to the communities that live there and that see their ways of life in danger, "Greenpeace Chile campaign area spokesman Mauricio Ceballos told reporters.

The activist said that the Beagle Channel, which connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific in southern America, and is a Unesco biosphere reserve, is threatened by the salmon industry "which has always been the protagonist of the Norwegian capitals. Chile".

"We already know the consequences that this industry has generated in different areas of Chiloé and Aysén, so allowing them to operate in Patagonia would be an irreparable damage to the waters that are the gateway to Antarctica," Ceballos added.

Norway is the world's largest producer of farmed salmon, followed by Chile, although both countries have presented environmental problems in the south of the South American nation, causing damage to artisanal fisheries in the areas where the cages are installed.

On countless occasions, Chilean biologists have denounced the salmon industry for the contamination of waters through the excessive application of nutrients, antibiotics and chemicals.

The salmon companies and the Norwegian financial sector play a central role in the investments, productions and current expansion of this industry in coastal areas in Chile, according to the marine protection group Centro Ecocéanos.

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