Ecotoxicity of Aquaculture Chemotherapy-A Case Study in Chile

Abstract

Aquaculture has experienced rapid growth in Chile over the past three decades, currently ranking first in America in terms of production. The use of chemotherapy, involving chemical drugs to prevent and treat disease outbreaks, has been widespread in salmon aquaculture for managing fish population diseases. To mitigate the negative environmental impacts of aquaculture chemotherapy, an analysis of the current legal framework governing Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for veterinary medicinal products was conducted, referencing the Chilean regulatory framework (SAG 2011) and international guidelines (VICH 2000, 2004; EMA 2016). The analysis revealed a need to enhance the Chilean legal framework to align with international standards, thereby facilitating sustainable aquatic production. The study identified a legal framework that permits high ecotoxicity acceptance parameters, resulting in elevated environmental risk due to the use of Florfenicol in seawater-phase aquaculture, as indicated by a risk quotient (RQ) value exceeding 100.