Cruise Report March 2023, Chiloé
INTRODUCTION
A survey cruise on board the fishing/cargo vessel Centinela (homeport Dalcahue-Chiloé) was conducted by the Fundacion Centinela de Patagonia from February 15 to February 25, 2023 in the Ancud Gulf and the Corcovado Gulf. The main purpose of the expedition was to survey areas impacted by salmon farms and related activities (such as logistics, storage, maintenance; both ashore and at sea), and increasingly prevalent mussel farms. We carried out visual and photographic assessments (both from the boat and from drones) of the extent of plastic debris produced by these activities, collected water samples, and implemented passive acoustic monitoring at some of the farms to measure noise.
An additional goal of the project was to conduct visual surveys for marine mammals throughout the area, and to document any species observed with photographs from the boat and from drones.
Overall, weather conditions were very benign with good visibility and calm seas, which allowed us to cover a lot of ground during day time. At night we usually anchored in protected bays.
RESULTS
We cruised a total of 553 nautical miles, at a cruising speed of 8 knots or less, depending on the tides, wind direction and sea-state.
The following geographical areas/locations were surveyed: Compu, Quellón, Bahía Huellonquén, Corcovado Gulf, Caleta Almán, Auchemó, Canal Desertores, Fiordo Reñihué, Caleta Buill, Caguache, Dalcahue, Rilán, Huyar Bajo, Fiordo Comau, Porcelana, Huinay, Isla Queullín, Puerto Montt, Caleta La Arena, Calbuco, Caleta Martín, Ancud Gulf, and Dalcahue.
We visited operational salmon farms, “resting salmon farms” (i.e., farms with no salmon but with a skeleton crew), abandoned farm locations, areas impacted by fish farming plastic debris, mussels farms, salmon industry shipyards and shore facilities. Hundreds of pictures were taken, both from the boat and from the aerial drone. With Soundtrap acoustic recorders deployed on sub-surface moorings we recorded close to 100 hours near operational salmon farms, and in locations with no farms present. With these acoustic data we hope to be able to assess anthropogenic noise produced by the salmon farms. Currently salmon farms are equipped with several compressors to pump air into the fish pens, oxygen diffusers, diesel generators for power, water pumps, fish pumps, and feeding pumps. All of this equipment generates noise, as do the chain moorings anchoring the pens, buoys, and boats carrying
personnel and supplies to the farms. This noise has potential to be detrimental to marine animals, especially marine mammals, because they are very sound sensitive.
When possible we recorded interviews with local people, fishermen, sailors, residents, scientists, fish farm workers, to document the current opinion and feelings on the intensive salmon farming industry and mussel farming operations and their environmental impacts.
Several sightings of marine mammals were documented, which included three species: Peale’s dolphins (Lagenorhynchus australis), Chilean dolphins (Cephalorhyncus eutropia), and South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens). Usually we encountered small groups of 5 to 10 individuals, but on one occasion we saw more than 30 Peale’s dolphins.
We also collected several water samples outside fish farms. Once we identify a suitable laboratory in Chile, we plan to analyze these samples for heavy metals, antibiotics, and microplastics.
CONCLUSIONS
This was our first dedicated salmon farm survey, as our previous work (from 2014 to 2018) focused on marine mammal projects. Although we were not studying salmon farms previously, we did make observations of the farms previously and thus were able to document changes in the past 5 years as follows:
Many salmon farms that we had observed in 2014-2018 have been moved and/or relocated to other areas, mostly south to the Magallanes region, or have been stripped of the nets/pens and are “resting” (still occupying the original footprint at sea), or have been abandoned and are in a state of disrepair.
The salmon industry fleet, especially the small workboats, has been greatly reduced but there are more large vessels than before, such as the well boats (ships that carry live fish in free flowing tanks)
Many small artisanal fishing operations have disappeared and there is a noticeable decrease in marine traffic.
Plastic debris (macroplastic and microplastic) is a serious issue both at sea where it threatens marine mammals, fish, birds, and thus the whole ecosystem, and on land where several beautiful beaches are covered by trash coming from aquaculture and mussels farms.
Mussel farms have greatly expanded, covering large areas of navigable water and obstructing beaches and valuable fishing grounds.
As before we noticed a total lack of enforcement of current laws designed to protect the delicate environment of Patagonia. We never encountered or observed a designated agency enforcement unit inspecting any of the farms that we visited.
FUTURE PLANS
Our most urgent need is to financially support our future efforts. We currently are volunteering our own time and money because we care so deeply about Patagonia, but we are unable to continue unless we can obtain funding needed to cover travel expenses and research supplies. We will continue to volunteer our time, and plan to expand our efforts to include outreach, education, scientific publications, and working with existing local, national and international organizations. Our goal is to help protect Patagonia and its unique resources, and to build a sustainable and inclusive economy.