Norwegian salmon giant Mowi risks a fine of up to CLP 5 billion (€6.2 million/$7.1 million) and the loss of its concession after only capturing 5.5 percent of the 690,000 fish that escaped from its Los Lagos, Chile, farm last July, reports biobio Chile.

Ten net pens collapsed at the Calbuco site, and Mowi failed to recapture the minimum 10 percent of the escaped fish, automatically putting them at risk of a fine from Chile's environment agency.

Documents and witness statements have been collected over the last few months, and the public prosecutor's office will make a decision once it has full information.

The escape already led to related losses and other costs amounting to €3 million ($3.4 million) over the third quarter of 2018, which offset the improvement in biological costs in Chile, the company said back in November.

The escape led to Chile’s lawmakers passing a proposed amendment to the country's Fishing and Aquaculture Law in March, allowing fishermen to capture escaped salmon originating from sea farms after the recapture period granted to the company expires, but banning them from capture during the initial recapture period.

Aquaculture

Mowi risks large fine, loss of concession after fish escape