Statement on Voting Rights from Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert

Updated: January 18, 2022

The right to vote is a priority for Patagonia because it creates the foundation for progress on everything we care about. Thriving communities and the fate of our planet rely on electing leaders who share our sense of urgency. And that relies on every eligible voter having equal access to the ballot.    

In 2020, nearly two-thirds of eligible voters cast a ballot in the general election. Patagonia was proud to play a role in that success through the nonpartisan initiative we co-founded called Time to Vote, which resulted in nearly 2,000 CEOs coming together to provide resources for American workers to vote. We also recruited and placed poll workers and gave paid time off to our employees to volunteer and vote. Last spring, we donated $1 million to groups working to protect and advance voting rights. Regardless of party affiliation, we sent a clear message to our employees that voting was important, and we were making time for them to participate in our democratic system. 

After the 2020 election, Democratic and Republican officials from every state confirmed (several times over in some states), there was no widespread fraud. And yet, in 2021, at least 19 states passed 34 laws restricting access to voting and more than 440 bills with provisions restricting voting access were introduced in 49 states. Regardless of the motivations of those championing this legislation, the impact will be felt most by people of color, students, the elderly, and people with disabilities. 

I am calling on the business community to join us in urging the Senate to pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. This federal bill will help ensure election integrity and that you and your neighbor have equitable access to the ballot box. 

 The fate of our democracy, and ultimately, the planet is at stake. 

 To join us in urging the Senate to act, please call, email or tweet your senators.  

Patagonia Wins Award from U.S. State Department

The company won the Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence in the Climate Innovation category for its commitment to nature and the planet  

Patagonia Inc. today won the Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) from the U.S. Department of State for Climate Innovation because of the company’s work in Argentina to protect nature and advance climate solutions.

The Department of State gives three annual Secretary of State awards to U.S. companies doing business in other countries, recognizing those that show leadership in their foreign operations and whose operating practices and decision-making exemplify American values and international best practices. Patagonia Inc., an outdoor apparel brand based in Ventura, CA, has worked to conserve land and water in its namesake region of Patagonia in Argentina and Chile through its support of Tompkins Conservation, led by former Patagonia CEO and current board member Kristine Tompkins.

“Congratulations to Patagonia for winning the Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence for its commitment to protecting nature and advancing innovative solutions to combat climate change,” said MaryKay Carlson, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires. “Patagonia demonstrates exemplary leadership through its work to protect land and sea in Argentina while also reducing carbon emissions and its own energy footprint.  Patagonia’s work makes a difference to local communities and helps create a better environment for the next generation.”  

Patagonia was instrumental in a campaign that resulted in the provincial government of Tierra del Fuego banning salmon farming, which would have contaminated the pristine waters of the Beagle Channel.

Through it’s NetPlus product innovation, Patagonia has partnered with Bureo (a 2016 ACE winner) to transform discarded fishing nets recovered from Argentina into hat brims, reducing the need for virgin plastic and paving the way for other companies to use recycled plastic sourced from a traceable supply chain. And Patagonia’s Worn Wear program is changing consumption habits — repairing more than 130,000 garments, reducing waste and revolutionizing the apparel industry by making the used clothing market mainstream.

"We have rejected old ways of thinking and learned how to build a successful business that contributes to the future in a positive way,” said Alex Perry, Patagonia’s Director of Latin America. “We’re humbled by this global recognition and we will continue working toward Patagonia’s reason for being, which is to save our home planet. We could never do this without the grassroots environmentalists we partner with in Argentina and around the world.”

Founded in 1973, Patagonia is a Certified B Corporation and is recognized internationally for its commitment to product quality and environmental activism. Patagonia has contributed more than $145 million in grants and in-kind donations to date. Patagonia Argentina, a subsidiary operation of Patagonia Inc., was incorporated in Argentina in 2005.

Patagonia Calls for Moratorium on Seabed Mining

Below is a press release that was originally shared by the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition.

DSCC AND WWF JOINT PRESS RELEASE

Volkswagen Group, Triodos Bank, Scania, and Patagonia today joined growing calls for a moratorium on the emerging deep-sea mining industry.

The world’s second-biggest car manufacturer, a leading ethical bank, a major commercial vehicle manufacturer, and sustainable outdoor clothing company have joined other major companies BMW Group, Volvo Group, Samsung SDI, Google, and Philips in pledging to keep minerals sourced from the deep sea out of their products.

In addition to putting the brakes on the rush to mine the deep sea, the statement signed by the companies also highlights the need to explore alternatives as a matter of urgency; reduce the demand for primary metals; develop responsible terrestrial mining practices, and transition to a closed-loop materials economy.  

 “Volkswagen is continuously working on sustainable mobility solutions for future generations. This includes high standards for responsibly shaped raw material supply chains. Seabed mining poses severe environmental risks that we take very seriously and that drives us to support the call for a moratorium.”

Dr. Frauke Eßer, Head of Global Supplier Risk and Sustainability Management, Volkswagen Group Purchasing:

“The deep ocean is the largest carbon sink on our planet and a vital natural solution to climate change. We need to do everything in our power to protect rather than destroy this phenomenal ally. It is powerful to see leading companies recognise and take action on this.” – Jessica Battle, WWF No Deep Seabed Mining Initiative Leader.

“Triodos Bank’s mission is to make money work for positive social, environmental, and cultural change. In this time of unprecedented crisis relating to our natural world, Triodos Bank believes it is very important to implement a mortarium on deep-sea mining. There is no place for an industry that risks compromising the services to our planet that the deep ocean provides.”

Iris Lether, Investment Strategist, Triodos Investment Management, a subsidiary of Triodos Bank.

“Humans need to continue rapidly transitioning to renewable energy sources, but in a responsible manner. No matter what reasons we hear for mining the bottom of the ocean, we need to recognize that it would create grave ecological threats and risks disturbing carbon locked away in the deep, with limited opportunities for proper oversight. In our pursuit of renewable energy, we need to ensure that any essential mining is done in the most ecologically responsible way, which means no deep-sea mining. We cannot allow extractive industries to keep raiding our land and water for financial gain, and we need to move away from the model of capitalism that necessitates endless growth at the expense of the planet.” 

Hans Cole, Head of Environmental Activism, Patagonia.

“It is fantastic to see Volkswagen Group, Triodos Bank, Scania, and Patagonia supporting ocean health for future generations by taking action on deep-sea mining and committing to keeping minerals from the ocean floor out of their products. We hope this will inspire more companies to take up the baton and defend this vital life-sustaining ecosystem by saying ‘no’ to deep-sea mining.” – Farah Obaidullah, Global Campaigner with the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition.

The nascent deep-sea mining industry seeks to strip-mine materials 4-6 kilometres below the surface of the ocean, starting in the Pacific Ocean. The prospective mining companies argue the minerals are needed for new batteries, but breakthroughs in battery technology are evolving without them. The giga-scale Swedish battery manufacturer, Northvolt, for example, announced earlier this month that it has produced the first-ever lithium-ion battery cell with 100% recycled nickel, manganese, and cobalt. 

The growing call from companies to safeguard the health of the deep ocean comes as scientists and policy experts continue to warn of the risks associated with deep-sea mining. More than 600 marine science & policy experts from over 44 countries have also called for a pause on the nascent industry, warning of a “loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning that would be irreversible on multi-generational timescales” and “uncertain impacts on carbon sequestration dynamics and deep-ocean carbon storage.” Earlier this year the influential IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille also passed a resolution with overwhelming support for a moratorium on deep-sea mining.

Farah Obaidullah continues, “As we look beyond COP26 and ramp up our efforts to tackle the climate crisis, we need to recognize the deep sea and the critical role this environment plays in locking away carbon. We cannot afford to open up a new frontier of industrial resource extraction in an environment that stands between us and the worst impacts of climate breakdown.”

Patagonia Closing North American Stores, Warehouse and Offices for Last Week of 2021

At Patagonia, we do our best to not be bound by convention and to look out for people and the planet. For the last week of this year, we are shutting down our stores, warehouse and offices in the United States and Canada because our people need a break. Patagonia.com will remain open. 

More information is available here.

We hope you too have a restful and fun break this holiday season.  

Patagonia Joins Human Rights Campaign Business Statement on Anti-LGBTQ+ State Legislation

We want our colleagues and customers to feel safe and welcome to show up as their authentic selves. That’s why Patagonia has signed onto the Human Rights Campaign’s business statement on anti-LGBTQ+ state legislation. There are deeply concerning laws being pursued and enacted in state houses across the U.S. singling out LGBTQ+ people — many targeting transgender youth. We strongly believe that everyone should enjoy sports and the outdoors as their most authentic selves without discrimination. Congress must pass the Equality Act to guarantee federal protections for all LGBTQ+ people.

Ventura Residents Demand Newsom and EPA Stop SoCalGas

Ventura, CA – Ventura residents are appealing to Governor Gavin Newsom and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan to prevent SoCalGas from expanding a natural gas compressor that’s footsteps away from an elementary school and Boys & Girls Club.

A coalition of community members, nonprofit organizations, and businesses — known collectively as the Westside Clean Air Coalition — are concerned about the environmental impacts of SoCalGas’ proposal to expand the Ventura Compressor Station, a natural gas compressor station at 1555 N. Olive St. in Ventura, CA. The site is directly across from the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Ventura’s Robert Addison Center and the E.P. Foster Elementary School, and less than a block away from the West Ventura neighborhood — home to approximately 13,000 people.  

The proposed gas expansion project raises significant environmental justice issues for the residents of Ventura. The smell of fumes is a regular occurrence in the West Ventura neighborhood. Compressors and pipelines are prone to ruptures, leaks and explosions. This site is a prime example of why oil and gas infrastructure should be included in Governor Newsom’s draft 3,200-foot setback rule which currently only applies to oil and gas drill sites. 

Ventura residents have sent more than 280 emails and held three rallies in opposition to the project. Yet the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District has thus far refused to review the environmental impacts on the surrounding community under the California Environmental Quality Act.

In a letter sent to the Governor’s office, the coalition urges Newsom to remind the Air District as well as the California Public Utilities Commission of their responsibility and authority to intervene, requiring an Environmental Impact Report before any further work can be performed on the compressor expansion.

In a similar letter, the coalition is asking EPA Administrator Regan to demand relevant permitting agencies conduct robust health and environmental assessments.

“Governor Newsom has taken promising steps to protect communities on the frontlines of fossil fuel drilling, but he must break his silence on the equally catastrophic impacts of fossil fuel infrastructure on nearby neighborhoods,” said Tomás Rebecchi, Food & Water Watch Senior Central Coast Organizer. “We appeal to him now to follow through on his commitment to protect communities facing environmental racism and injustice. The Public Utilities Commission allowed the unnecessary expansion of SoCalGas’ Aliso Canyon facility. We cannot allow the unnecessary expansion of its Ventura Compressor.”

“Science draws a clear connection between the planet’s warming and fossil fuel industry activity,” said Shannon Simpson, Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas Executive Director. “Governor Newsom and the Environmental Protection Agency must consider the facts and demand that SoCalGas’ proposed expansion of their Ventura facility be properly reviewed to fully understand its effects on our environment and the densely populated Westside neighborhood. Earth and the frontline community cannot risk experiencing further harm from the greenhouse gas super emitter station.”

“Having this infrastructure here is an environmental injustice to the people who live nearby,” said Ryan Gellert, CEO of Patagonia, the Ventura-based outdoor clothing company that is part of the Westside Clean Air Coalition. “Not only is expanding a gas compressor across from an elementary school to pump more fuel through the region dangerous, it’s unnecessary and counter to California’s efforts to find solutions to the environmental crisis.”

Read the letter to Gov Newsom here.

Read the letter to the EPA here.

###

Contact: Jessica Gable, (202) 683-2478, jgable@fwwatch.org

Statement on Build Back Better Framework

"The new Build Back Better framework offers significant progress toward getting our communities off fossil fuels, investing in our future through the Civilian Climate Corps and protecting nature — including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge," said Ryan Gellert, CEO of Patagonia. "But we are disappointed that this proposal fails to provide workers with paid leave. At Patagonia, we’ve seen how supporting our employees with paid leave and onsite childcare is essential to maintaining a robust and engaged workforce. Companies should be held accountable for their climate plans and corporate promises. And our elected leaders must demonstrate the courage and leadership needed for the systemic change required to reach our environmental and social justice ambitions."

Statement: Bears Ears National Monument Restoration

For immediate release 

Tomorrow, with the support of Tribal Nations, conservationists, and outdoor enthusiasts, President Biden is expected to restore protections for Bears Ears National Monument, protecting 1.36 million acres of land in southeast Utah. Bears Ears is one of our nation’s most significant cultural, natural landscapes with thousands of sacred sites and resources supporting local Indigenous tribes. It is also an area offering world-class rock climbing and other outdoor recreational opportunities.  

“We want to thank the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition for their leadership and thank all of our friends in the Indigenous and environmental communities who have worked to protect Bears Ears National Monument,” said Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert. “We also want to thank the Biden administration, especially Secretary Haaland, for their work to restore protections for more than a million acres of sacred land. We have a shared responsibility to conserve these important cultural landscapes for future generations.” 

Patagonia started working with our friends in the Indigenous and environmental communities to protect Bears Ears in 2013. As part of our efforts, we released our first-ever television advertisement, a film, a fundraising website, a virtual tour and other initiatives in our stores and online. We celebrated when President Obama designated the area as a national monument in 2016. Then, on December 6, 2017, we joined the sovereign Indigenous nations of the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Ute Indian Tribe, and Pueblo of Zuni, along with several grassroots groups, to sue the Trump administration after Trump drastically reduced the monument’s boundaries. 

If you choose to visit Bears Ears, or any other Indigenous land, please visit with respect. You can read tips here and here. 

Please send any media inquiries to patagoniapress@patagonia.com. 

### 

Photo by Michael Estrada

Patagonia Supports Budget Reconciliation Package, Investments in Climate and Paid Leave

Patagonia strongly urges swift passage of the once-in-a-generation opportunity to avoid a worsening climate crisis and to give working families the support they deserve now. To pay for this critical legislation, Patagonia is willing to pay a higher corporate tax rate and we urge Congress to also consider ending subsidies for the extractive industries.

The climate investments would accelerate an energy economy based on wind and solar, fund the Civilian Climate Corps and protect threatened landscapes such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The paid leave provisions would enable people to return to the labor force by addressing the urgent issues of child care availability, sick leave and work/life balance. Paid sick and parental leave is a win for all: Patagonia has offered these policies for nearly 50 years and have seen the positive outcomes firsthand. 

Earlier today, Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert appealed to Senator Joe Manchin (LINK) and Senator Kyrsten Sinema (LINK) to pass the budget reconciliation package. But it is our hope that all members of Congress consider their communities, especially those on the frontlines of the climate and economic crisis, as they consider this legislation.  

For interview requests, please contact PatagoniaPress@patagonia.com.

Letter to Senator Kyrsten Sinema

The Honorable Kyrsten Sinema 

Hart Senate Office Building, 317 

Washington D.C. 20510 

Dear Senator Sinema: 

On behalf of Patagonia’s employees and the planet we all depend on, I write to strongly urge your support for the once-in-a-generation opportunity to avoid the direst impacts of the climate crisis and give working families the support they deserve through the budget reconciliation package. These are urgent issues that demand immediate attention.  

Sound fiscal policy is certainly a key concern in thinking about how best to set up America’s future generations for success. But as the conservationist David Brower said, “There is no business to be done on a dead planet.” The cost of our inaction will be far higher than the cost of investing in science-based climate policies now.  

Patagonia is willing to pay a higher corporate tax rate in order to generate new revenue needed to fund the reconciliation package. Another viable source of funding is to eliminate tax subsidies for oil and gas companies. As you know, U.S. direct subsidies to the fossil fuel industry account for approximately $20 billion each year, and cost Americans more than $649 billion annually when considering other health, environmental and climate externalities. Cutting these subsidies would not only push the needle on reducing emissions, but also save significant taxpayer dollars that could be repurposed to fund a just transition for workers in Arizona and beyond. 

The investments in this critical legislation would accelerate an energy economy based on wind and solar, fund the Civilian Climate Corps and go a long way toward protecting threatened landscapes such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Oak Flat and offer important wildfire mitigation. The legislation also provides necessary funds for the protection, restoration and climate resiliency of our public lands, including so many that provide jobs and recreation for Arizonans. 

Beyond taking action on climate, I also ask that you prioritize paid leave for workers. At Patagonia, we’ve seen firsthand how essential it is to support our employees with on-site child care and paid leave to maintain a robust and engaged workforce. Yet, nationally, fewer than 21 percent of workers have access to paid family leave through their employers. Attracting and retaining top talent and a speedy economic recovery depend on enabling people to return to the labor force by addressing the urgent issues of paid leave and child care availability. 

Patagonia has thousands of customers and supports small businesses and environmental nonprofits in Arizona. As you consider how to proceed with budget reconciliation, I urge you to keep our communities, the future of our planet and America’s working parents as your top priorities. 

Sincerely,  

Ryan Gellert, CEO, Patagonia

Letter to Senator Joe Manchin

The Honorable Joe Manchin 

Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

Hart Senate Office Building, 306 

Washington D.C. 20510 

Dear Senator Manchin: 

On behalf of Patagonia’s employees and the planet we all depend on, I write to strongly urge your support for the once-in-a-generation opportunity to avoid the direst impacts of the climate crisis and give working families the support they deserve through the budget reconciliation package. These are urgent issues that demand immediate attention.  

Sound fiscal policy is certainly a key concern in considering how to best set up America’s future generations for success. But as the conservationist David Brower said, “There is no business to be done on a dead planet.” The cost of inaction will be far higher than the cost of investing in science-based climate policies now.  

Patagonia is willing to pay a higher corporate tax rate to generate new revenue needed to fund the reconciliation package. Another viable source of funding is to eliminate tax subsidies for oil and gas companies. As you know, U.S. direct subsidies to the fossil fuel industry account for approximately $20 billion each year, and cost Americans more than $649 billion annually when considering other health, environmental and climate externalities. Cutting these subsidies would not only push the needle on reducing emissions but also save significant taxpayer dollars that could be repurposed to fund a just transition for workers in West Virginia and beyond.  

The investments in this critical legislation would not only accelerate an energy economy based on wind and solar, but would also fund the Civilian Climate Corps and go a long way to protect threatened landscapes such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Oak Flat, as well as offer important wildfire mitigation. The legislation also provides necessary funds for the protection, restoration and climate resiliency of our public lands, including for our nation’s newest national park, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. 

Beyond taking action on climate, I also ask that you prioritize paid leave for workers. At Patagonia, we’ve seen firsthand how essential it is to support our employees with onsite child care and paid leave to maintaining a robust and engaged workforce. Yet, nationally, fewer than 21 percent of workers have access to paid family leave through their employers. Attracting and retaining top talent and a speedy economic recovery depend on enabling people to return to the labor force by addressing the urgent issues of paid leave and child care availability.

Patagonia has thousands of customers and supports small businesses and environmental nonprofits in West Virginia. As you consider how to proceed with budget reconciliation, I urge you to keep our communities, the future of our planet and America’s working parents as your top priorities. 

Sincerely,  

Ryan Gellert, CEO, Patagonia

Patagonia President Jenna Johnson Meets with Vice President Kamala Harris

Patagonia’s president, Jenna Johnson, along with other business leaders met with Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House today to discuss child care as part of the Biden administration’s Build Back Better initiative.

White House fact sheet here.

“Policies to support working parents are good for communities, good for our economy and good for our country,” Johnson said after the meeting. “As a result of 40 years of supporting employees with onsite childcare, Patagonia has learned we can create a more equitable and productive workplace culture and retain and attract talent while recouping most of the cost. The companies represented at the White House today all offer incredible benefits to families, but we shouldn’t be the exception. The respect and dignity this nation owes workers — which workers deserve — should not be a competitive advantage. These policies need to be the norm.”

For press inquires, please email patagoniapress@patagonia.com.

Stop SoCalGas From Polluting Ventura

Patagonia is honored to be working in solidarity with local grassroots environmentalists, community members and elected leaders to protect our community from SoCalGas’ proposed expansion of a natural gas compressor located across the street from the E.P. Foster Elementary School and Boys & Girls Club here in Ventura, CA.

Please see the press release from this past Saturday’s rally here and Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert’s op-ed in the Ventura County Star here.

To learn more about the efforts to stop SoCalGas’ expansion of the gas compressor on Olive Street in Ventura, please visit westsidecleanair.org.

Historic Announcement: Argentina becomes first country to reject salmon farming

For Immediate Release

June 30, 2021

BUENOS AIRES — The Provincial Legislature of Tierra del Fuego in Argentina unanimously approved a bill today that bans salmon farming in marine cages.

Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost province of Argentina, is the only viable location in Argentina for this type of salmon farming, therefore, today’s vote effectively positioned Argentina as the first country to ban this intensive and environmentally destructive industry.

Salmon farming is the farming and harvesting of salmonids, under controlled conditions, for commercial purposes. Salmon farming in cages is only possible in cold-water environments that are often fragile yet rich in biodiversity. Consequences of salmon farming include massive salmon mortalities, intensification of toxic algae blooms (such as red tide), introduction of exotic species, the loss of local fauna, generation of dead zones, entanglement of marine mammals and bacterial resistance. According to a Just Economics report, the salmon industry seeks to grow fivefold over the next 10 years, threatening the waters of the Beagle Channel.

In 2019, the Argentine government and the government of the Tierra del Fuego province signed an agreement with Norway to develop salmon production in cages. The salmon industry was not welcomed by Tierra del Fuego residents, who joined neighboring Chilean communities, environmental nonprofits, and the outdoor apparel brand Patagonia to call for ocean protection. As a result of their advocacy, the government decided to put a temporary halt to the project. Today, provincial Legislator Pablo Villegas and Vice Governor Mónica Urquiza presented a bill to finally ban the salmon industry by law, and it was unanimously approved.

The number of coastal communities questioning this industry grows steadily. In the United States, Canada, Scotland, Iceland, Tasmania and Norway, local communities oppose to the installation of cages, and although they have long sought to remove them from their fjords and channels, this is the first time a government has banned the industry. Importantly, today’s historic decision is a blueprint for Chile, where salmon farming has a strong presence in the regions of Los Lagos and Magallanes, and even in the Kawésqar National Reserve and the Alberto Agostini Park.

By saying no to the salmon farming industry, Argentina is showing that the urgency of the environmental crisis we are facing can be addressed through the design of policies that identify scenarios, build consensus, and define a course of action to achieve the common good over sectoral interests. Tierra del Fuego successfully anticipated and listened to residents, choosing to preserve one of Earth’s last pristine lungs and the identity and culture of the province, setting a precedent for the rest of the world.

Relevant Quotes

Legislator Pablo Villegas stated: "I think it’s important to point out that the message is clear: if we work with our head and heart, with conviction, commitment, passion, and responsibility, that translates into achievements. Saying ‘No’ to salmon farms is possible."

David Alday, representative of the Yagán community—the original inhabitants of this southernmost point of the world—said: “Thirty years from now, I see an abundant archipelago full of different species and surrounded by national parks, strong, with a powerful vision and a powerful message to the world about how we must care and support our nature. I see us navigating, I see us free, the artisanal fisherman doing his job as he always has done, and above all, an uninterrupted Onashaga, with nothing obstructing the landscape. Being optimistic, this area is a great example for the universe. Here, we are not fighting for a community but the positive effects of these decisions on a global level."

Yvon Chouinard, founder of outdoor apparel brand Patagonia, said: “Today’s historic vote shows the people of Argentina value wild salmon, biodiversity and local communities over a reckless industry that’s bankrupting our oceans. Coastal communities should take notice of what happened in Argentina and follow their lead. A life without nature is not a life worth living, and that is where we are headed if we don’t act now.”

Martina Sasso, one of the leaders on Rewilding Argentina Sin Azul No Hay Verde Foundation’s marine program, founded by Kris and Douglas Tompkins, said: "This legislation confirms that if we get involved and actively work as a society based on what unites us, everything is possible. All changes are meaningful, if we can convince a legislator or a leader of our community to do things differently, we are changing the world."

Francis Mallmann, a leading chef and activist on this cause, said: "To have navigated the Beagle Channel alongside the descendants of the native people who harvested fruits in this pristine place for thousands of years, and to be able to keep it as it is, adds respect for our traditions and a healthier planet. I think we are close to a radical change in the salmon farming industry. Younger people are closer than ever. There is an ethical leitmotif that unites them without borders. They are showing us that they have very different ambitions from ours: for them, the most important thing is the planet. Stubborn and strong, step by step, they will change the course of destruction. For them, the planet must be a single sustainable farm, responsibly cared for by all.”

Booker Prize-winning Australian novelist, Richard Flanagan, who’s also the author of Toxic, a book about the salmon industry in Tasmania, stated: "Argentina has in Patagonia one of the last great places of wonder in the world. Industrial salmon farming will destroy it and, with it, a better future for all Argentinians. The gains are few and only for the executives and investors, while the losses will be immense, eternal and diminish your nation. Argentina can be a world leader by saying no to a rapacious folly that is becoming discredited in country after country and be applauded globally for its courageous vision. And when people come to see what was saved, they will also mourn what has been lost in Chile, in Norway, in Scotland, in Canada, and my home island of Tasmania—and they will wish their governments had shown the wisdom of Argentina.”

In this context, the Chilean Comptroller's Office detected a series of shortcomings in the chain of supervision that different bodies must exercise over the activity. "The fishing and aquaculture law needs to be reformulated and there are many challenges to make it more socially and environmentally responsible. It is essential to separate small-scale aquaculture from the debate on salmon farming and put much more control and sanction initiatives over salmon farming or intensive aquaculture in general. And in terms of budget, the State must provide funds for auditing both to the Superintendence of the Environment (SMA) and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (SERNAPESCA)," says Flavia Liberona, biologist and Executive Director of Fundación Terram.

Alexandra Morton, an independent biologist and author of Not on My Watch. How a Renegade Biologist Took on Government and Industry to save Wild Salmon, stated: “Here in British Columbia I lost my community, the whales I was studying left, the wild salmon died off, and the toxic algae blooms began. They are ruthless bullies who sing such a sweet song that no one figures out who they really are until it is too late. I have fought this industry for 35 years. The damage to British Columbia is catastrophic. We are pushing it out of our waters, but I fear it is too late.”

Don Staniford, head of the Global Alliance Against Industrial Aquaculture, said: "I have been fighting the global salmon farming industry for over two decades and the tide is now turning against this toxic industry. Salmon cages are a malignant cancer on our coasts which urgently need to be ripped out. This is a watershed victory in Argentina which will make waves around the world.  A global ban on open net cage salmon farming can help safeguard the health of our global ocean and the health of our children for generations to come.”

Media contacts:

Guillermo Schulmeier | +54 9 11 5325 9168 | guillermo@emprendia.net

Carolina Arriagada | + 54 9 11 56120642 | carolina@emprendia.net

Resources:

Photos on Drive

Photos on Dropbox 

Link to YouTube video of today’s vote