MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Regional News from Pta. Arenas.

Chilean fisheries, fastest growing sector; Campaign against Lan Chile's fares; Punta Arenas student in Oxford.

Chilean fisheries, fastest growing sector

"Fisheries is expanding 10% annually, the fastest growing sector of the Chilean economy", indicated Sergio Mujica Chile's Director of Fisheries during a recent visit to Punta Arenas. Mr. Mujica said that in Magallanes Region fisheries employs 10% of the local labour force and generates 100 million US dollars in exports, and is also the region with most potential for growth in aquaculture. "Aquaculture is still incipient in Magallanes, there are only 19 farms, but requests number 300". However Mr. Mujica admitted that Magallanes was possibly the region where requests take longer to be considered because so many different government offices intervene. "With the new aquaculture policy and guidelines that will be soon announced, we expect the waiting time for requests in Magallanes to be reduced from 5 to 2 years" forecasted Mr. Mujica who added that the Chilean aquaculture industry target for 2010 was 2,5 billion US dollars. The industry actually represents a billion US dollars annually. "Besides the national aquaculture policy, new rules for leisure and scientific fishing will also be approved, because we want to ensure a sustained but orderly expansion of the industry", stressed Mr. Mujica. According to the latest Chilean Fisheries Department release on aquaculture there are 7 farms in Magallanes and 12 in Ultima Esperanza. Authorizations have been extended for another 9 in Magallanes; 22 in Ultima Esperanza; 1 in Tierra del Fuego and 7 in Antarctica. Requests been considered include 79 in Magallanes; 80 in Ultima Esperanza; 21 in Tierra del Fuego and 50 in Antarctica, making a total of 230.

Campaign against Lan Chile's fares

Two of the most powerful Punta Arenas trade unions, with the support of elected Deputy Zarko Luksic are openly campaigning against Lan Chile's hegemonic position regarding flights to south Chile. Workers from the Chilean Revenue (Taxing) Office and ENAP, the government's oil company consider Lan Chile is taking advantage of its monopolistic condition and charging "abusive" fares for travellers in and out of Punta Arenas. Mr. Luksic who is a member of the Extreme Areas Committee of Chile's Lower House said that Lan Chile actively promotes a complicated fare structure that includes 18 different prices which are exorbitantly expensive for those passengers who are forced for health or personal reasons to urgently fly in or out of the area. "We're going to consult the Antimonopoly Committee and demand that in those routes without competition fares have a minimum and maximum price", highlighted Mr. Luksic, who revealed that the business community in Valdivia is involved in a similar campaign against Lan Chile's "abusive" practices. Mr. José González vicepresident of the Punta Arenas Revenue Office said that as civil servants whenever "we have to fly north for an emergency, or our children have to change their tickets, Lan Chile always is charging additional costs". Erica Hidalgo president of Enaps' union indicated that the whole community has to be involved in the campaign, "because we all know Lan Chile's fares are arbitrary. How many times has Lan Chile blamed the weather when we're left for hours and hours waiting in the airport and we all know that is not the reason?". "Magallanes must unite, and it's time workers and the whole community make ourselves heard, having an only airline is negative for everybody", insisted Ms. Hidalgo. "It's not only a matter of flying in or out of Magallanes; it involves health, our children's higher education, it's a question of quality of life for all Magallanes residents", concluded Deputy Luksic.

Punta Arenas student in Oxford

A 14 year old student from Punta Arenas British School will spend a month in Britain in an exchange program sponsored by The British Council that promotes British culture and education overseas. Carlos Téllez was selected among 31 students from British Schools in Chile and with two other students will be the first group to accomplish the annual exchange program. Carlos will spend the month in a boarding school close to Oxford where he will be able to select from a wide range of cultural, educational and sporting activities. The British Council looks after the students in Britain but parents must pay for air fares and insurance.