Chile’s maritime authority is investigating the deaths of two divers who perished recently while performing separate maintenance tasks at salmon farms belonging to Australis and Blumar.
The fatal events took place within a week of each other at the end of July. In both cases, the divers were employees of the same maritime services company, Trapén – a contractor that also works with other salmon companies such as AquaChile and Salmones Austral.
The first incident occurred at Australis’ Canalad farming center located in the Aysén region, while the second took place in Magallanes region at Blumar’s Bahía León farming center.
Both companies issued separate statements regarding the tragedies, expressing sorrow over the deaths of the two divers, whom they said had years of experience before the incidents occurred.
Australis and Blumar said the causes of the events are still being investigated, and they pledged active support and collaboration in the investigative process carried out by authorities.
The companies also said they responded in line with current regulations, activating established emergency protocols and providing first-response aid while immediately notifying the corresponding authorities. They also launched in-house investigations to look into the incidents and expressed condolences to the respective families of the deceased workers.
According to the Association of Professional Divers of Chile, 245 diving accidents took place at Chilean salmon farms between 2004 and 2022, of which 44 ended in death.
“Each loss should be a call to improve working conditions, reinforce safety, implement good labor practices, and demand that the noble, essential work of diving be respected with dignity and responsibility,” the association said in a statement.
Both cases were presented by the association as examples of the serious level of risk still faced by those who work underwater in the salmon industry.
“Today, with respect, we bid farewell to our colleagues, who should not have parted. May their memories also serve as a banner in clamoring for the changes that our sector urgently needs,” it said.
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