Shocking sea lion revelations
Several workers captured and beat an adult sea lion (Otaria flavescens) in a farm site belonging to Salmones Yadrán, causing the death of the animal on September 2014. Images of the incident started spreading last week, causing outrage in the industry.
Sea lions are well known in Chile for the significant losses they cause in fish farms, tearing fish nets and devouring salmon.
Since there is a nation-wide hunting ban over sea lions, the Chilean Service of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Sernapesca) has presented a formal complaint on animal abuse and cruelty before the public prosecutor's office and another formal complaint for capturing and beating this protected species.
Meanwhile, the general manager of Salmones Yadrán, José Miguel Barriga, said that his company strongly condemns the incident, and promised to provide full support to the authorities to investigate this situation and determine responsibilities. Likewise, the company itself has already started an internal investigation.
"Our business is governed by strict environmental policies which we convey to our employees and suppliers. We therefore consider that a situation like this is completely against not only the regulation, but the ethical principles of our directory," Barriga said.
Meanwhile, the president of the Association of the Chilean Salmon Industry (SalmonChile), Felipe Sandoval, agreed that the perpatrators must be punished.
"We strongly condemn these acts of violence and have requested an investigation into those responsible for such deplorable conduct," he said.
