SalmonChile values approval of Investigative Committee report on salmon theft
The text approved by the Chamber of Deputies addresses issues such as the importance of coordinated work between the public and private sectors, the need to address this issue with a perspective of organized crime, and an improvement in current legislation.
The Chamber of Deputies announced the main conclusions drawn by the special investigative commission on the theft of salmon and its commercialization in the central-southern area of the country. The report was approved by the full Chamber with 126 votes in favor, 1 against, and 6 abstentions on July 31st.
Among the points addressed by the commission, it highlights the need to tackle this problem considering both the risks involved in the commercialization of illicitly sourced salmon on people's health, as well as the effects on the physical, psychological, and emotional integrity of the workers in this productive sector who are victims of the thefts.
The report also emphasizes the importance of strengthening coordination between the public and private sectors to develop strategic action plans against salmon theft, taking into account the evolution of the crime, its increase and complexity, and therefore it should be approached from a perspective of organized crime, improving legislation to address this crime from its various facets. It is also indicated that currently there is no proper oversight to verify the origin of the salmon.
Finally, it is noted that there is a delay in the implementation of security measures on highways such as the activation of surveillance cameras on strategic routes to deter criminal acts, facilitate the identification, and pursuit of offenders.
In a press release, SalmonChile stated that "as a guild we highly value the work of this instance led by Deputy Mauro Gonz谩lez, in which we had an active participation in Valpara铆so, Bio Bio and Los Lagos, where fieldwork was carried out in the affected areas, with very good participation from regional deputies of the southern macrozone. We value the fact that several of the issues that we, as a guild, have raised were addressed, such as the importance of reinforcing the protection and safeguarding of the life and integrity of the industry's drivers; the need for new criminal classifications of crimes and new tools for monitoring and traceability with greater presence and coordination of incumbent public services, and the strengthening of the investigative units of the Public Prosecutor's Office".
