In late 2020, inspectors from the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service’s regional office in Atacama detected large amounts of forbidden seaweed on the beach. Since that black furrow had no owner, the resource was cleverly marked so that it could be identified later when it appeared in supply to a processing plant. And that is exactly what happened.
“Weeks later we traced 722 kg of black wool marked by us to a controlled plant. When we asked for documentation, we were given proof of origin of some algae belonging to the Maule region, so we confirmed unreliable information and delivery of supplies without proof of origin of the resource,” Regional Director (S) Claudio of Cernapesca Ramirez explained the Atacama.
The case was processed in the Caldera Courts for only two years, the final decision was favorable to Cernapesca, and the plant was temporarily closed and sentenced to pay a fine of one million dollars. In another similar proceeding, the courts also ruled in favor of Sernapesca and sentenced another manufacturing plant to pay a fine of 510 UTM for misconduct in supplying Huiro Barretido in sanctions.
The system of marking or identification of seaweed dumped on the beach, carried out by SERNAPESCA inspectors, allowed cases to be won in the courts. “We implemented it last year, because we have no one to offend by not being the owner, but we know it has offensive practices. It is forbidden in our area, but for a limited period and quantity. Algae indiscriminate The harvesting is affecting the grasslands, jeopardizing their conservation and other hydrobiological resources that are at risk,” Ramirez said.
The innovative control process Sernapesca implemented together with the Navy and the Carabineros is giving good results, and work has also been strengthened with more organizations of the Sustaining Network, such as the PDI and the Internal Revenue Service, to disrupt the association network. around illegal commercialization of fishing resources.
