The CEO of Chilean salmon producer Salmones Camanchaca Ricardo Garcia is warning that a law aimed at curbing the activities of salmon farmers will lead to thousands of job losses in sparsely inhabited areas of the South American nation.

The executive fears a devastating impact on small and medium sized companies who supply the salmon sector and their local economies.

Garcia confirmed comments he made in an interview with Chilean financial newspaper Diario Financeiro, urging the government to step back from imposing further restrictions on an already highly regulated industry.