The Patagonian Foundation PO Box 29113 San Francisco, CA 94129 USA 1-888-570-1122 info@thepatagonianfoundation.org September 8, 2008
Foundation History Board of Directors About Patagonia Current Challenges Projects How to Help News and Updates FAQs English / Español Home		Current Challenges Salmon Farming In recent years, aquiculture has experienced explosive growth in Chile so that Chile is now the second largest producer of salmon in the world. However, there is growing concern regarding the environmental impact of salmon farming. These concerns include, but are not limited to: There is no law governing the importation of salmon roe, resulting in the use of genetically altered roe. The amount of food given the salmon exceeds their daily needs, creating an accumulation of non-consumed sedimentation which depletes the oxygen level in the water, promoting algae growth and raising the level of toxicity in the regional water, especially levels of nitrogen and phosphorous. Due to the unsanitary conditions, the salmon farmers use excessive antibiotics on the salmon, which ultimately reach other organisms in the waters and the consumer. Only 12% of the modern industrial salmon producers treat their liquid waste before dumping it. The others dump their liquid waste directly into the rivers and lakes, which is in turn ingested by the other fish and organisms in the water, and ultimately the residents of the local communities. For more information visit: www.terram.cl. Tourist Infrastructure | Overgrazing | Threatened Habitats and Endangered Species | Salmon Farming | Deforestation | Pet Overpopulation | Waste Management | Industrial Development