Tierra del Fuego chefs and fishers unite to defend salmon farming ban – The Fish Site

Report on Sustainable Marine Resource Management in Tierra del Fuego

Introduction and Event Summary

On 15 November, a collaborative event titled “Fuegian Cuisine Honouring the Sea” was convened at the Ushuaia Aeroclub. The initiative brought together key stakeholders from the region’s culinary and artisanal fishing sectors to advocate for sustainable marine practices. The primary objectives were to promote the consumption of local seafood and to defend existing environmental legislation against the introduction of industrial salmon farming. This initiative directly addresses several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to marine conservation, responsible consumption, and sustainable economic growth.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water

The event placed significant emphasis on the protection of marine ecosystems, a core tenet of SDG 14. Participants articulated a strong defense of Law 1355, which currently bans salmon farming in the province.

• Conservation of Marine Ecosystems (Target 14.2): Proponents of the ban, including event organizer Chef Jorge Monopoli, argued that open-net salmon farming poses a significant threat to the unique marine environment of the Beagle Channel and the South Atlantic. Maintaining the ban is presented as a crucial measure for protecting and sustainably managing these vital ecosystems.
• Sustainable Fishing Practices (Target 14.4): The event celebrated and promoted artisanal fishing, which emphasizes sustainable harvesting of local species such as rock cod, clams, and mussels. This approach contrasts with industrial aquaculture models that can negatively impact wild fish stocks and biodiversity.
• Support for Small-Scale Fishers (Target 14.b): By highlighting the connection between the community and artisanal fishers, the initiative champions the rights and access of small-scale producers to marine resources and markets, a key objective for ensuring equitable and sustainable use of ocean resources.

Promoting Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

The initiative actively promoted a shift towards more sustainable consumption and production patterns, in line with SDG 12. The focus was on building local, transparent, and sustainable food systems.

1. Fostering Local Consumption: The event sought to address the paradox of Argentina’s low domestic seafood consumption despite its abundant marine resources, with an estimated 90 percent of national catches being exported. By showcasing dishes made with local species, the initiative encourages the development of local markets and reduces reliance on global supply chains.
2. Ensuring Sustainable Production: The emphasis on artisanal fishing and its “from sea to plate” traceability model promotes a production system that is environmentally sound and socially equitable. This stands in direct opposition to the potential environmental degradation associated with industrial salmon farming.
3. Raising Public Awareness: By engaging approximately 50 participants from the community, the event served as an educational platform to inform the public about the importance of responsible consumption choices and their impact on marine health and local economies.

Economic and Community Implications (SDG 8 & SDG 11)

The debate surrounding Law 1355 highlights a critical intersection of environmental protection and economic development, touching upon SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

• Sustainable Economic Models: The event advocated for an economic model based on the sustainable use of local resources, supporting the livelihoods of artisanal fishers and strengthening the local gastronomic sector. This presents a sustainable alternative to the proposed economic opportunities of industrial aquaculture, which opponents argue would jeopardize existing fisheries and the region’s environmental integrity.
• Community Resilience: The collaboration between chefs, fishers, and the community strengthens local value chains and fosters a shared sense of stewardship over regional resources. This community-led action contributes to building resilient and sustainable communities that value their natural and cultural heritage.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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

• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The core of the article revolves around protecting the marine environment of the Beagle Channel and the South Atlantic from the potential negative impacts of open-net salmon farming. It also highlights the importance of existing local fisheries and marine species.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The article explicitly mentions the discussion of “responsible consumption and sustainable production” at the event. It addresses consumption patterns by noting that 90% of Argentina’s fish is exported while local consumption is low, and it promotes the consumption of local, sustainably sourced seafood.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article presents the conflict between two economic models: the potential economic opportunities from expanding industrial aquaculture versus the protection and promotion of existing artisanal fisheries and their local value chains. This touches upon sustainable economic growth and the livelihoods of local fishers.

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

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds. The concern that “salmon farms that would affect the produce of the Beagle Channel and the South Atlantic” directly relates to preventing potential pollution from aquaculture operations.
• Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts. The entire effort to defend Law 1355, which bans salmon farming, is an action aimed at protecting the local marine ecosystem from what supporters of the ban perceive as a significant adverse impact.
• Target 14.b: Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets. The event’s aim to “highlight the connection between the community and artisanal fishers” and the emphasis on local value chains (“from sea to plate”) are direct efforts to support and provide market access for small-scale fishers.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The article discusses Argentina’s “abundant fish resources” and the imbalance where most are exported. The initiative to “promote regional seafood consumption” of diverse local species like “rock cod, clams, mussels, silverside and cholgas” is a strategy for more sustainable and efficient use of these natural resources at a local level.
• Target 12.8: By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature. The event “Fuegian Cuisine Honouring the Sea” is an awareness-raising campaign designed to inform the community about sustainable production, responsible consumption, and the importance of protecting local waters.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.4: Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. The debate presented in the article between advocates for aquaculture’s “potential economic opportunities” and those defending the ban to prevent environmental harm is a direct reflection of the challenge of decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation. The promotion of artisanal fishing represents an alternative economic model that is inherently linked to the health of the marine environment.

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

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• Implied Indicator for Target 14.2: The status of Law 1355 serves as a direct policy indicator. Maintaining the law indicates progress in protecting the marine ecosystem, while amending or repealing it would be a negative indicator.
• Implied Indicator for Target 14.b: The strength and number of local value chains, described as “from sea to plate,” can serve as a qualitative indicator. An increase in restaurants and consumers sourcing directly from artisanal fishers would measure progress.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Mentioned Indicator for Target 12.2: The article provides a clear quantitative indicator: the percentage of national fish catches that are exported (“an estimated 90 percent”). A reduction in this percentage, coupled with an increase in the rate of local seafood consumption, would be a direct measure of progress towards more sustainable consumption patterns.
• Implied Indicator for Target 12.8: The number and reach of public awareness events like “Fuegian Cuisine Honouring the Sea” can be used as an indicator of efforts to educate the public on sustainable consumption. The participation of “around 50 participants” including chefs, cooks, and fishers is a specific data point from the article.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Implied Indicator for Target 8.4: The economic viability and number of people employed in the artisanal fishing sector can be used as an indicator. The article implies that protecting this sector is a form of sustainable economic activity that does not degrade the environment, in contrast to the potential risks of industrial salmon farming.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: thefishsite.com