Fish feed manufacturer Ewos Chile is hoping to incarcerate the former boss of Patagonia Salmon Farming amidst allegations of unpaid debts over fish feed in the late 2000s.

The trial has revived memories of the worst moment of the Chilean salmon industry, when a series of ISA virus outbreaks rocked the sector between 2008 and 2009.

Patagonia Salmon Farming (PSF) was the only company that could not survive the crisis. Before being declared bankrupt, a settlement procedure was established between creditors and the company, which allowed the proportional payment of the creditors\' claims under supervision of a bankruptcy trustee.

According to both plaintiffs and defendants, PSF had a credit line with Ewos Chile for fish feed and would have to provide fish in lieu of payments should they fail to pay for their feed. However, the plaintiff\'s attorney, Cecilia Errazuriz, claims that PSF harvested part of the biomass from one of their farms without Ewos\'s consent in 2008.

As a result, the fish feed manufacturer is seeking not only a compensation payment of about US$ 1.360 but also 541 days in prison for Hans Kossmann, founder and former general manager of the defunct salmon producer.
[Source: Christian Pérez, FishFarmingXpert. Read article]