Bahía Narau fishermen challenge rejection of processing plant

More than 60 artisanal fishermen from the Bahía Narau Federation in Quintero and Puchuncaví have filed a motion for reconsideration against the Valparaíso Regional Ministerial Secretariat of Housing and Urbanism. The legal action challenges the rejection of a permit for a squid processing plant in Puchuncaví, which aims to add value to local catches and improve economic opportunities for the sector.

The Federation’s legal counsel, Enrique Kittsteiner, argues that the authority misinterpreted the Valparaíso Metropolitan Regulatory Plan (PREMVAL). He contends that the plant was classified as a ‘nuisance industry’ rather than a ‘dangerous industry,’ and therefore the current prohibition is legally incorrect.

Parallel to the legal dispute, tensions within the fishing community have escalated into physical violence. Hugo Poblete, president of the Bahía Narau Federation, reported being assaulted by four individuals at the Caleta Embarcadero during a training session. Local union members provided a conflicting account, alleging the confrontation began after Poblete refused to leave the premises following accusations of financial irregularities and mismanagement.