The preventive emergency declaration due to Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in 15 regions of the country does not establish a general ban on the extraction, commercialization or consumption of seafood products. This was clarified by the Subsecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture, highlighting that the measure aims to strengthen surveillance and institutional preparedness against potential risks, while maintaining health controls and restrictions. specific ones that correspond.
From the institution they emphasized that prevention allows protecting people's health and safeguarding the continuity of fishing and aquaculture activities that meet sanitary requirements, therefore they reiterated the call for calm and to purchase seafood products exclusively from authorized establishments and to comply with the health authority's regulations.
The measure, which will apply between November 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027, will allow for strengthening the monitoring of environmental and sanitary conditions, improving the exchange of information between institutions and strengthening the response capacity in case of the eventual appearance of harmful algal blooms.
From Subpesca they emphasized that this statement has a preventive nature and it does not mean that seafood products are contaminated or that there is a general ban on consuming themIts purpose is to anticipate possible contingencies through monitoring and inspection, so that authorities can act in a timely manner if conditions are detected that represent a risk.
The Subsecretariat emphasized that this approach is also important to protect the work and employment of thousands of people linked to artisanal and industrial fishing, as well as to the different productive activities associated with the sea. In regions and sectors where there are no signs of harmful blooms or ongoing health restrictions, the activity should continue normally, respecting the established controls.
The situation is different when analyses detect toxin levels above the allowed limits. In such cases, health authorities can impose specific restrictions in the affected areas, as recently occurred in Terao Bay, in the commune of Chonchi, Los Lagos Region. There, after detecting levels of shellfish paralytic toxin above the health regulations, the Seremi de Salud ordered the closure of a maritime sector and restricted the extraction of the affected resources.
These targeted measures allow the prevention of specific risks to public health without unnecessarily extending restrictions to sectors that do not have the same conditions.
Harmful Algal Blooms are natural phenomena that can produce toxins capable of accumulating in certain shellfish and represent a risk for people. Therefore, permanent monitoring, inspection and coordination between the competent authorities are essential tools to detect any changes in environmental and sanitary conditions in a timely manner.
Finally, the Undersecretariat called on people to purchase seafood products only from authorized establishments, to respect the extraction and commercialization restrictions set by the authorities and to stay informed through official channels.
The preventive emergency aims to anticipate risks, protect people's health and safeguard employment and fishing activities. It is not about halting consumption or work in areas that meet sanitary conditions, but about strengthening surveillance and acting promptly where necessary.
