These are hundreds of samples taken and studied by experts external to the company during the months of August and September, and which are analyzed by certified laboratories. 

 Puerto Montt, October 15. The comprehensive Comprehensive Monitoring Plan implemented by Blumar and required by the authority to understand the behavior of the environment following the sinking of the Caicura center, in the Reloncaví Sound, began to deliver relevant information. 

The first six oceanographic campaigns, which involve hundreds of samples taken and studied by scientists and academics external to the company, show that, to date, there are no significant variations in environmental parameters either in the sector of the center’s sinking or in the surrounding areas. 

It is important to remember that this environmental measurement plan has eight monitoring stations and four control stations, including the oceanographic buoy that has been operating in the Reloncaví Sound for more than three years, which allows for a robust baseline of scientific information about the area. 

The monitoring carried out during the months of August and September considered the study of the marine currents in the area as well as the physicochemical conditions of the entire water column and the seabed. The latter implies the quantitative analysis of phytoplankton, suspended solids, total and partial organic carbon, total nitrogen, nitrate, nitrite and phosphate, among other parameters. 

Among the main scientific findings, it stands out that dissolved oxygen and saturation showed that there is no variation between the sinking zone and the other control points and that they presented normal values for the time of year. Likewise, these values are positive for the ecosystem, as they show that oxygen levels at the bottom of the sea have not decreased, where the sunken biomass is encapsulated. Similarly, the pH has remained in the normal ranges for the area according to the historical information of the sector, compiled by the oceanographic buoy that has been operating in the area for more than three years.

Another interesting aspect is that investigations carried out by the team of experts  have shown the absence of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium Catenella, producer of the paralytic shellfish poison, popularly known as red tide. They also detected scarce presence of harmful microalgae.

Among the chemical parameters analyzed, the scientists detected an increase in Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and in pH concentration. According to the experts, this phenomenon occurs as a response to the beginning of the biological productive season (increase in microalgae that produce DO) of the Reloncaví Sound. In response to increases in DO, pH concentrations also increased on the surface, due to biological activity that occurs due to its direct relationship with CO2 consumption during the respiration process of microalgae.

On the other hand, from the results of the water column sampling in August delivered by the laboratory, it stands out that of the total of 14 chemical parameters analyzed, 6 of them presented, in general, values below their detection limits (e.g., ammonia, chlorophyll-a, BOD5, nitrite, ammoniacal nitrogen, and total sulfide). Regarding the chemical parameters measured around the sinking area that presented values above the control stations, but without significant variations, were: BOD5 in campaign 1, total suspended solids, Kjeldahl nitrogen and total organic nitrogen in campaign 2 and total suspended solids, and total and particulate organic carbon during campaign 3.

 The experts also detected that the results of organic matter fluctuated between 7.1% and 10.3%, slightly high with respect to the control stations, however, the range of organic matter found in the subtidal environment so far agrees with the values reported by other researchers in previous years, which have recorded ranges that vary between 10% and 12.5% for the mouth of the Reloncaví estuary and between 7.5% and 10% towards the interior of the estuary. 

 Likewise, during the monitoring campaigns the experts observed a slight change in roughness limited to the surface of the sinking area, as well as the presence of birds in that sector. This would be due to the natural degradation of the biomass, a phenomenon that is being monitored exhaustively in the sampling carried out daily by the company, and which will be included in all remaining oceanographic campaigns. 

In the last 10 weeks the company has taken more than 100 samples, using a standard Altair monogas monitor equipment for hydrogen sulfide. So far, the readings show a very low presence of this compound on the surface, which is well below levels that could be considered inadequate. 

 “From the very beginning we have monitored the behavior of the environment following the sinking of the center. And in parallel with the Comprehensive Monitoring Plan, we have sent more than 40 voluntary reports to the authority, carried out more than 140 samples of chemical parameters and weekly reviews of the state of the cages, structures and biomass. All of this has allowed us to determine that the fish are encapsulated at the bottom of the sea and that their degradation process is occurring at slow rates, which is favorable for the marine environment, since it allows natural assimilation of the process in the ecosystem”, explained the manager of the Salmon area of Blumar, Pedro Pablo Laporte. 

Likewise, Laporte detailed that “the voluntary monitoring we have carried out in the last 10 weeks began on July 9 and has involved underwater, surface and aerial inspections, environmental monitoring in water column, seabed, mammals and birds, current studies, and extraction of biomass to be analyzed. The work has been divided into surface and bottom monitoring. In the first, factors such as the appearance of the sea, sample collection, measurement and dimensioning of the extent of odors and the presence of birds are analyzed. Meanwhile, at the seabed, inspection of the cages is carried out, capturing images and georeferencing the position of the module, as well as biomass samples”.

Voluntary measurements have shown normal parameters for the time of year and that the cages have not moved from their original position. Additionally, they have made it possible to verify that the encapsulated biomass has a low average daily degradation rate, which results in low impact for the aquatic environment and which is produced by the particular conditions of the seabed.