Santa Cruz advances with a law to control Chinook salmon and mitigate its impact on Patagonian ecosystems – Noticias Ambientales

Legislative Action on Invasive Chinook Salmon in Santa Cruz

Report on Provincial Law for Ecological Management

The province of Santa Cruz has enacted a law officially designating the Chinook salmon as an invasive exotic species. This legislative measure, approved unanimously, establishes a comprehensive plan for the control and regulated use of the species within the Santa Cruz River basin. The initiative directly addresses the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land), which calls for the introduction of measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems.

Ecological Impact and Alignment with SDG 14: Life Below Water

The Threat to Freshwater Ecosystems

The Chinook salmon, native to the northern hemisphere, has established self-sustaining populations in Patagonia’s glacial rivers since its introduction. Its biological cycle poses a significant threat to the region’s sensitive ecological balance. This dynamic directly undermines the objectives of SDG 14 (Life Below Water), which seeks to conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.

• Ecosystem Alteration: The mass spawning events, followed by the death of adult salmon, introduce large quantities of organic matter into the rivers, drastically altering water chemistry and nutrient levels.
• Biodiversity Loss: These changes disrupt native trophic chains and displace vulnerable local species through competition for resources and habitat.
• Compromised Integrity: The invasion compromises key ecological processes, affecting the overall health and balance of high-value Patagonian freshwater ecosystems.

A Multi-faceted Management Plan for Sustainable Development

Core Objectives of the New Regulation

The law implements a dual-strategy approach: reducing the invasive salmon’s biomass while simultaneously creating regulated economic opportunities. This framework aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals by integrating environmental protection with social and economic development.

1. Regulated Utilization: The plan will issue special permits for artisanal fishing, prioritizing local inhabitants of the river basin, thereby supporting local livelihoods.
2. Sustainable Infrastructure: It mandates the development of infrastructure for slaughter, refrigeration, and transport that adheres to strict health and environmental standards.
3. Targeted Control: Strategies will be implemented to control expansion in ecologically sensitive areas through permanent monitoring, selective removals, and regulation of recreational fishing.
4. Prevention of Further Invasion: The law strictly prohibits the introduction of Chinook salmon into environments where it is not currently present.

Contribution to Economic and Social SDGs

The management plan is designed to contribute positively to several interconnected SDGs:

• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): By formalizing the fishery, the plan aims to create sustainable economic opportunities, reduce poaching, and promote inclusive local development.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): It establishes a framework for the sustainable management of a natural resource, transforming an ecological threat into a regulated and safe food product.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Regulating the commercialization of salmon mitigates the public health risks associated with informal and uncontrolled food circuits.

Implementation Framework and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

A Collaborative Approach to Environmental Policy

The successful implementation of the law hinges on a multi-stakeholder collaborative model, reflecting the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The provincial Executive is tasked with coordinating actions among a wide range of partners to ensure a sustained and evidence-based environmental policy.

• Municipal Governments
• National Agencies
• Scientific and Academic Institutions
• Local Communities

Funding for the plan will be sourced from the provincial budget, with provisions for supplementary financing through national and international cooperation, further emphasizing the partnership-based approach to achieving sustainable development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 15: Life on Land: This is the most directly addressed SDG. The article focuses on managing an “invasive exotic species” (the Chinook salmon) to protect the native “ecological structure” and “biological communities” of the Santa Cruz River basin, which is a terrestrial and freshwater ecosystem. The law aims to prevent “new invasions” and halt biodiversity loss caused by the salmon’s impact on “vulnerable native species.”
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: Although the issue is in a river, it is relevant to SDG 14. The Chinook salmon is an anadromous species that connects freshwater and marine environments. The article discusses managing a fish population and its impact on an aquatic ecosystem that is part of a larger basin connected to the ocean. The plan to regulate fishing and address “poaching” also aligns with the sustainable use of aquatic resources.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The article explicitly states that the salmon’s life cycle “alter the water’s nutrient levels” and “water chemistry” due to “large loads of organic matter.” This directly impacts water quality and the health of the river ecosystem, connecting the issue to the protection of water-related ecosystems.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The approved law seeks to turn a problem into a solution by allowing “regulated use under strict criteria.” The plan aims to generate “formal economic opportunities” and contribute to “local development” through “artisanal fishing” and the creation of infrastructure for processing, which supports sustainable economic growth.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The implementation of the law requires a multi-stakeholder approach. The article mentions that the Executive will “coordinate with municipalities, national agencies, scientific institutions, and local communities.” It also notes that funding may be complemented with “national and international cooperation,” highlighting the importance of partnerships.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 15.8: “By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species.” The entire article is about the approval of a law to control the Chinook salmon, which is declared an “invasive exotic species,” and to implement a plan to “reduce impacts in the Santa Cruz River basin.”
• Target 14.2: “By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration, in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.” The plan for “ecological restoration” of the river basin, which is connected to the ocean, directly aligns with this target.
• Target 14.4: “By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing…” The article addresses “poaching” and “uncontrolled commercialization.” The new law establishes a “regulated use” plan with “special permits for artisanal fishing,” which is a direct measure to regulate harvesting and combat illegal activities.
• Target 6.6: “By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including… rivers…” The law and its associated plan are designed to mitigate the damage caused by the salmon to the Santa Cruz River, addressing the alteration of “water chemistry” and “nutrient levels” with the goal of “ecological restoration.”
• Target 8.3: “Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation…” The plan to allow “controlled exploitation to contribute to… local development” by creating “formal economic opportunities” through regulated “artisanal fishing” and related infrastructure directly supports this target.
• Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The article explicitly states that the plan’s execution requires coordination between the Executive, “municipalities, national agencies, scientific institutions, and local communities,” which is the definition of a multi-stakeholder partnership.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For Target 15.8: A key indicator is the adoption of national/sub-national legislation. The article’s central theme is the approval of the “law that declares the Chinook salmon as an invasive exotic species.” The implementation of the “control and regulated use plan” is a direct measure of progress.
• For Targets 14.2 and 6.6: The article implies several ecological indicators. Progress could be measured by “permanent monitoring” of the river’s health, including tracking changes in “water’s nutrient levels,” “water chemistry,” and the recovery of “native species” populations that were being displaced. A reduction in the “biomass” of the invasive salmon would be a primary indicator of the plan’s success.
• For Target 14.4: Progress can be measured by the establishment of the regulatory framework itself. Specific indicators would include the number of “special permits for artisanal fishing” issued, the volume of salmon harvested under this regulated system, and a decrease in reported incidents of “poaching” and “uncontrolled commercialization.”
• For Target 8.3: The creation of “formal economic opportunities” can be measured. Indicators would include the number of jobs created in the regulated artisanal fishing sector and the development of associated “infrastructure for slaughter, refrigeration, and transport.”
• For Target 17.17: The existence and functionality of the partnership is an indicator. Progress can be measured by the establishment of formal agreements and joint actions between the provincial government, “municipalities, national agencies, scientific institutions, and local communities” as outlined in the article.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: noticiasambientales.com