Chilean Fisherpeople Fight Salmon Introduction
an article by Len Yannielli

In January 2002, the local community of Puerto Williams, Isla Navarino, Chile, along with the participation of the international research organization, EarthWatch, which I was a part, helped prevent a salmon introduction proposal for the Omora Ethnobotanical Park on the Island. The people of the island, at the far southern end of the world, are working hard to preserve its biological and cultural diversity. One of the biggest threats to its biological and cultural diversity is . . salmon. As part of a science research team taking measurements of the forest there, I agreed to help.

Salmon are large predator fish. When introduced to rivers, they aggressively feed on the eggs and young of wild fish. This can be especially harmful on islands in that it can greatly reduce wild species to the point of extinction. Pesticides and colorants are used when salmon are farmed; which, in turn, are a threat to chemically allergic individuals. A further complication is that many families in rural Alaska, including Native American Indians, are going bankrupt as Chilean salmon flood U.S. markets.

The pressures on the environment are continous, however. On Tuesday, February 19th, 2002, I watched a sleek, white yacht cruise into the harbor at Puerto Williams. The Edwards, the richest family in Chile, were visiting this hard-to-reach island for vacation purposes and business. And that business is salmon. This family fled to New York during the Popular Unity government of Salvador Allende (1970-'73). Supporters of Military Dictator Augusto Pinochet, the Edwards returned to Chile after Popular Unity was overthrown by Pinochet.

The union representing small fishermen, who harvest wild marine plants and animals, was disrupted during the dictatorship. Its 30,000 artisan fishermen have only regained legal status since 1990. Some have lost their markets to salmon farms. They are strongly opposing salmon introductions and the Free Trade of the Americas Act (FTAA) which would only speed up the environmental damage and loss of jobs.

A proposal to have the Cape Horn area included in the United Nations Biosphere Reserve program is under discussion. Those wishing to help can contact: www.earthwatch.org or e-mail info@earthwatch.org.

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If we can connect up the planet through Internet
can't we agree to preserve the planet?

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LATEST READER COMMENT:

I don't think we're even close to coordination on the internet. Moreover, I think that it's primarily the United States' fault that we can't come to a world-wide consensus on policies such as environmental protection.

Just look at all the new security bills that are being steam-rolled through congress. Did you know that the government is giving itself the authority to hack your computer if they "suspect" you of doing something illegal? They don't even have to tell you what it is. Did you know that United States technology firms, such as Microsoft, have been working on ways to privatize and control the internet for the past 5 years? Now, compare that to U.S. efforts to undermine environmental policy. Did you know that the secret courts of NAFTA have the right to sue a government for "interfering" with the profits of international companies? In a recent case, NAFTA secret tribunals ruled that the Canadian govenment could not shut down a company for violating environmental policies because it would "interfere" with that company's right to make profits... . ...more.

This report was posted on April 24, 2002. The moderator is David.

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