EXECUTIVE SUMMARY project: DIAGNÓSTICO Y PROYECCIÓN DE LAS ACTIVIDADES DE ACUICULTURA ENTRE ARICA Y TALTAL

INSTITUTO DE FOMENTO PESQUERO / DIVISIÓN INVESTIGACIÓN EN ACUICULTURA

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The aim of this study is ‘to diagnose and make projections for aquaculture activities in the North of Chile (Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá and Antofagasta regions), based on the characterization of environmental, sanitary, geographic and operational conditions. A diagnosis of the situation at present was made taking into consideration the major cultivated resources. This involved the gathering of the following antecedents: aquaculture trends, historical production levels, areas where aquaculture has been concentrated and applied research to diversify the regional production matrix. Ninety nine aquaculture concessions were identified between Arica and Taltal, of which 52 were authorized and 47 were in the process of being granted authorization. These permits cover a total area of 3445.48 ha, across 42 coastal sites. The historical production baseline along the coast of Arica and Taltal has been sustained by commercial cultures of Chilean scallop, Pacific oyster and Gracilaria spp. algae. In so far in epicontinental waters, commercial cultures have been sustained by the microalgae Haematococcus and Spirulina. In addition, technical-scientific

antecedents

of

cultivation

experiments

(national

and

international) were collected for the main hydrobiological species for which interest or potential exist for their cultivation. This information relates to: seed production, weight gain and optimal cultivation conditions, intensity space utilization, among other aspects relevant in establishing the level of development of resource cultivation. Externalities and limitations were also identified associated with aquaculture development. Forty five hydrobiological species were selected within the study area for possible cultivation, of which only 5 are commercially cultured i FIP N° 2008-34 - INFORME FINAL: DIAGNÓSTICO Y PROYECCIÓN DE LAS ACTIVIDADES DE ACUICULTURA ENTRE ARICA Y TALTAL

INSTITUTO DE FOMENTO PESQUERO / DIVISIÓN INVESTIGACIÓN EN ACUICULTURA

and 24 experimentally. Sixteen additional species were considered due to promising results in commercial or experimental cultures in other regions of the country, and due to good medium-term prospects for industrial upscaling. In parallel, scientific and technical literature was collected regarding the possible environmental effects caused by aquaculture activities in Chile and abroad, thus identifying impacts per type of culture (species, culture system) in marine and freshwater environments. With knowledge of the possible impacts, the most relevant environmental parameters to aquaculture were determined, associated with three physical environmental matrices: seabed, hydrobiological resource and water column. This step was fundamental in evaluating areas of interest, according to their sanitary and environmental status. Moreover, an exhaustive analysis of the current environmental legislation in Chile and its application in aquaculture in the North of the country was carried out. Regulations and international tracking programs were also identified (e.g., ECASA, EEA), of which certain procedures could be applied in Chile. Thirty four environmental and sanitary parameters were identified for (marine) aquaculture development according to the environmental matrix (sediment, hydrobiological resource and water). To determine the condition of the sediment, certain Canadian standards and guidelines for the protection of aquatic life were included: bathymetry, granulometry, organic material load and bottom topography. In so far as considered relevant in determining the sanitary conditions of certain resources within a selected area, the following were included: heavy metal concentration (Hg, Cd, Pb and As), the presence of deleterious microorganisms for human health such as Salmonella and paralytic, diarrhetic and amnesic toxins found in seafood. Currentometry parameters, suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a, pH, heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Pb and As), hydrogen sulfide, phosphorus, (phosphate–orthophosphate), biological oxygen ii FIP N° 2008-34 - INFORME FINAL: DIAGNÓSTICO Y PROYECCIÓN DE LAS ACTIVIDADES DE ACUICULTURA ENTRE ARICA Y TALTAL

INSTITUTO DE FOMENTO PESQUERO / DIVISIÓN INVESTIGACIÓN EN ACUICULTURA

demand, nitrogen, nitrate, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and pesticides, were all considered important variables in determining the environmental conditions of the water column. To counteract the lack of sanitary and environmental information for the study area, complementary sampling was done in the following selected areas: Playa Corazones (south of Arica), Caleta Camarones, Bahía de Pisagua, Caleta Los Verdes, Caleta Chanavayita, Caleta Chipana, Caleta Punta Arenas, Caleta Constitución, Caleta Paposo and Caleta Buena (south of Taltal). These localities were selected using a graphical analysis which allowed the delimitation of homogenous areas and the discarding of areas where economic activities are incompatible with small scale aquaculture or provoke deleterious environmental impacts. With respect to the relevant parameters for public health, the following were limiting in the commercialization of aquaculture products: marine mollusks obtained in situ exceeded maximum levels of arsenic (2.0 mg/kg), for two thirds of the stations south of Bahía de Pisagua and at the three sampling stations in Caleta Chanavayita. With regards to lead, only a third of the sampling stations in Caleta Chanavayita registered mollusks that exceeded the maximum (1.5 mg/kg). No sampling stations exceeded the maximum for mercury (0.50 mg/kg), in contrast with cadmium where all sampled stations exceeded the maximum (1.0 mg/kg). Based on the results obtained from complimentary sampling, we conclude that the best sites for aquaculture development in geophysical and environmental-sanitary terms are: Caleta Corazones, Caleta Chanavayita, Caleta Punta Arenas, Caleta Constitución and Caleta Buena. The restrictive limitation is the high levels of cadmium that exceed the maximum.

iii FIP N° 2008-34 - INFORME FINAL: DIAGNÓSTICO Y PROYECCIÓN DE LAS ACTIVIDADES DE ACUICULTURA ENTRE ARICA Y TALTAL

INSTITUTO DE FOMENTO PESQUERO / DIVISIÓN INVESTIGACIÓN EN ACUICULTURA

Along the coast of the northern regions of Chile, (Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá and Antofagasta), there are 70 coastal polygons described in legal decrees as Suitable Areas for Aquaculture activities (A.A.A). These polygons are distributed between 41 sites, covering a total area of 32,129.91 ha. Nevertheless, despite the available area, there is clear underutilization of these areas, such that in 47 of these coastal polygons there are no aquaculture concessions or concession requests. Furthermore, there are issues regarding the overlap with AMERBs (Areas of Management and Exploitation of Benthic Resources). In function of coastal dynamics, 27 bay systems were identified in the study area. All the environmental information collected was plotted with Geographical Information System (GIS), producing standardized and normalized thematic maps, as well as determining variables and/or parameters which can be considered operationally suitable in designating “suitable areas for aquaculture”, with a focus on improved space utilization and the sustainability of this economic activity. In order to determine the species of “interest for aquaculture” an index was developed (IPEA: Index for Species Prioritization in Aquaculture) given the lack of this kind of tool. This procedure classified 14 species as “priority species” and 20 species as “non priority species” or “not for immediate consideration”, based on bioproductive, technological and economic considerations. Species within the first group were the following: Chilean scallop (Argopecten purpurata), Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas), Chilean oyster (Tiostrea chilensis), red abalone (Haliotis rufescens), Chilean abalone (Concholepas concholepas), octopus (Octopus mimus), South American freshwater shrimp (Cryphiops caementarius), hairy marron crayfish (Cherax tenuimanus), Chilean halfmoon (Medialuna ancietae), yellowtail amberjack (Seriola lalandi), tuna (Thunnus spp.), Japanese sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus), giant kelp (Lessonia nigrescens) and Gracilaria spp. algae. Thereafter, geographical areas of interest and priority species were matched, generating cultivation capabilities by sector. Results iv FIP N° 2008-34 - INFORME FINAL: DIAGNÓSTICO Y PROYECCIÓN DE LAS ACTIVIDADES DE ACUICULTURA ENTRE ARICA Y TALTAL

INSTITUTO DE FOMENTO PESQUERO / DIVISIÓN INVESTIGACIÓN EN ACUICULTURA

from a numerical procedure indicate that: Cerro Moreno-Isla Santa Maria, ÑajoPabellón de Pica, Caleta San Marcos-Playa Corazones, Tocopilla-Río Loa and TaltalPaposo are the areas where the best conditions are concentrated (High Potential) for the development of aquaculture, allowing the cultivation of 6 to 12 of the total of evaluated species in this analysis. Those species with the highest suitability across study areas were (in decreasing order): Gracilaria spp., Chilean scallop, giant kelp, Chilean oyster and red abalone, whose spatial coverage spans at least 7 areas. Punta Camarones-Caleta Chica, Tiviliche–Pisagua, Chipana and Playa Folkers-Lobitos only scored intermediate conditions in the diversification matrix, allowing for the cultivation of 2 to 4 species. Most of the biological requirements for the Japanese oyster, octopus, Chilean abalone, Peruvian halfmoon and the Japanese sea cucumber were not present in the areas evaluated, thus these species are spatially limited to areas where production is possible but with certain restrictions (Medium Potential). In the case of amberjack and tuna, both species presented Low Potential in the Playa Folkers - Lobito sector which makes their cultivation unsuitable in this coastal area, (Table 1.43). The same premises should be followed for other areas where medium potential was identified, except Cerro Moreno-Isla Santa María where potential was high. The procedures outlined in this study are focused on better spatial utilization and sustainability of resource cultivation, representing a tool that allows better orientation for decision making in integrated spatial management in aquaculture. This can be used for spatial planning of resource use, locating areas of potential, zonification of areas with previously defined limits (geographically and politico-administratively) and comparing the productive and environmental value of different zones, among other applications in conserving a national resource of public use. To quantify the evolution or development of the aquaculture sector, a tracking system was employed which incorporates geographical factors, resource v FIP N° 2008-34 - INFORME FINAL: DIAGNÓSTICO Y PROYECCIÓN DE LAS ACTIVIDADES DE ACUICULTURA ENTRE ARICA Y TALTAL

INSTITUTO DE FOMENTO PESQUERO / DIVISIÓN INVESTIGACIÓN EN ACUICULTURA

characteristics and the human context in which the activity is being developed. With this in mind and in order to support the digital organization and storage of data, the DigAreas.exe program was developed. This tool enables data of the specific area of interest (AAA, MPA, AMERB, etc.), to form a non-limited grouping of coordinate pairs in Lat-Lon or UTM format, indicating datum and linking samples to data. The data from samples covered the following areas: Sediment, Water, Macrofauna and Resources. Finally, it is important to point out that the experience of IFOP in these kinds of projects indicates that the early involvement of interest groups leads to result validation, facilitates reaching a consensus and reduces subsequent conflicts. Thus, with the aim of achieving high levels of participation, this project included participative methodology which among others, consisted in workshops for the diffusion and discussion of results in the three relevant regions. Also, an informative

blog

was

set

up

which

is

constantly

being

updated,

http://proyectofip2008-34.blogspot.com. Additionally, an image gallery was created via a social networking site, http://www.flickr.com/photos/proyectofip2008-34/.

Mayor información disponible: https://www.academia.edu/4713776/IF_N_2008-34_Diagn %C3%B3stico_y_Proyecci %C3%B3n_de_las_Actividades_de_Acuicultura_entre_Arica_y_Taltal http://www.fip.cl/FIP/Archivos/pdf/informes/inffinal%202008-34.pdf

vi FIP N° 2008-34 - INFORME FINAL: DIAGNÓSTICO Y PROYECCIÓN DE LAS ACTIVIDADES DE ACUICULTURA ENTRE ARICA Y TALTAL

INSTITUTO DE FOMENTO PESQUERO

Sección Ediciones y Producción Blanco 839, Fono 56-32-2151500 Valparaíso, Chile www.ifop.cl