No Blue No Green

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NO TO SALMON FARMING

Salmon Farming, or aquaculture of salmonids, is the farming and harvesting of salmonids for commercial purposes under controlled conditions. It was originally implemented in Norway in the late 1960s and today is looking forward to settle in the Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. The environmental impacts are irreversible.

WHO ARE INVOLVED

In March 2018 three agreements were signed —between Innovation Norway, the Ministry of Agriculture and Industry of Argentina, the Argentinean Foundation for the Promotion of Investments and International Trade (Fundación Argentina para la Promoción de Inversiones y Comercio Exterior) and the province of Tierra del Fuego— to look into possibilities for local development of this industry in the province. Being aware of the risk which this would imply, not only for the biodiversity and the ecosystems of the Island but also for the tourism vocation of the entire region, we launched an activist campaign with the goal of enacting a law that would prohibit the industry in the province.

IMPACTS

- Irreversible Environmental Impact: escaped farmed salmon, marine waste, pollution generated by the industry and overuse of antibiotics and chemicals are the cause of extinction of other species, creating “dead zones” in the sea. Up to now, none of the farming locations chosen by the industry have been able to recover.

- Social and Community Impact: the establishment of salmon farms jeopardizes species such as the spider-crab and the false king crab, on which the coastal communities of Almanza depend.

- Tourism Impact: this activity generates the highest incomes for the province. Both activities cannot coexist.

- Health and food security Impact: Intensive salmon farming generates overcrowded conditions that lead to the spread of infections and diseases. In addition, antibiotics are used to increase production rates, which generates bacterial resistance: one of the greatest threats to global health.

COMUNICATION

In order to position these issues in the social, political and international agenda, we worked hand-in-hand not only with organizations from Tierra del Fuego but with others in Argentina and Chile. To support our work, we conducted an economic study together with the coordinator of the UNTDF course of economy, about the impact of the industry on the economy of the province.This study drew conclusions which demonstrated the clear competition between salmon farming and tourism, one of the primary local economic activities and sources of employment. We also organized awareness workshops for various sectors of society.

ACTIVISM

We launched a massive communication campaign led by the most popular chefs in our country, with the slogan “No to Salmon Farming”. The communication actions were mainly addressed to bring awareness about environmental damages and those affecting human health and society. In response to the great significance of these issues, the campaign received national and international recognition, including in Norway.

LEGAL ACTIONS

We generated the necessary legal tools to investigate the agreements signed with Norway and be able to work towards the prohibition of salmon farming throughout the province.

The first step was to collaborate with a municipal ordinance, approved by the majority in Ushuaia, that prohibited the installation of any infrastructure related to salmon farming in the city. In May 2019, provincial legislators introduced a bill in the provincial legislature to ban salmon farming.

NO TO SALMON FARMING

WHO ARE INVOLVED

IMPACTS

COMUNICATION

ACTIVISM

LEGAL ACTIONS

PROJECTS

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