Suspect fishmeal seized

The national director of Sernapesca, José Burgos, informed that as result of this new finding eight companies have been reported of infringements to the General Law of Fisheries, due to unreliable delivery of statistical information and non-documentation of legal origin of the raw material for fishmeal.

Burgos added that a total of twelve subpoenas were submitted to these companies, which were already notified in late December. Next week, the corresponding complaints to the Second Civil Court of Talcahuano, and the First Civil Court of Coronel will be presented.

According to the information provided by Sernapesca, the affected companies are: Marfood, Fiordo Austral and Blumar (the latter one for a significantly lower volume than the rest).

Meanwhile, those companies only reported for non-delivery of fisheries statistical information are: Orizon, Foodcorp, Landes, Isla Quihua and Camanchaca.

Finally, José Burgos announced that the results of the audit to the weighing systems of processing plants in the region will be also delivered next week as part of another line of research developed by Sernapesca, to strengthen the control of the fishing activity in the area.

Blumar counter-response

In relation to this, Blumar said the following:

1. “On December 24th, 2015, we received a notification from Sernapesca about the existence of 8.89 tonnes of fishmeal in our storage warehouse of finished products, located in Talcahuano, which according to Sernapesca have no documentation of legal origin.
2. In this regard we should note that Blumar have not committed any infringement of the General Law of Fisheries and Aquaculture, as this minimal difference, equivalent to 0.03 per cent of our annual production of fishmeal, which reached 30,000 tones in 2015, is an inventory difference germane to the process of production and storage. Fishmeal, being a hygroscopic product has variations of weight, because in its natural form tends to absorb moisture to seek balance with the environment, which added to the normal differences between the original weight in the plant and that weight in the dispensation area produce a marginal variation.
3. We estimate that is appropriate to clarify that Blumar was who informed Sernapesca, through the affidavit of stock of 14.10.2015, on the variations in the production process and storage. However, the inventory record system of this institution does not allow these differences.
4. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Blumar supports the work of the authority and expresses its willingness to cooperate in the investigation conducted by Sernapesca.”