The fine is the largest for an environmental incident in Chile’s history.
Mowi has been fined 5.3 billion Chilean pesos, around USd 6.6 million, after 690,000 salmon escaped from a facility in Chile in July 2018, according to a press release from the Superintendencia de Medio Ambiente (SMA), which is the environmental authorities in Chile.
The escape took place at the Punta Redonda production site, which is located near Isla Huar, close to the salmon capital of Puerto Montt. The site was exposed to very harsh weather conditions with a lot of waves and strong winds, which led to major damage.
“A number of reports have also established that the escape has not had any environmental impact in the area. We therefore do not understand this fine and will appeal the decision,” said communications director Ola Helge Hjetland in Mowi to NTB (The Norwegian News Agency).
