After a year-long process of revisions and amendments, the newly approved Chilean fishing law that would implement extensive environmental reforms will now face a ruling from the Constitutional Court of Chile after opposition leaders announced they filed their appeal Thursday.
A group of senators led by Senate President Camilo Escalona launched an appeal to have the new fishing law revoked by the Constitutional Court of Chile claiming unconstitutionality in its division of fishing quotas and its lack of input from local fishermen affected by the law.
The new law has been applauded by environmentalists for its reforms that include fishing quotas set by scientists instead of by industry employees as well as a ban on bottom trawling, a form of fishing that drags a net along the ocean floor known to damage ecosystems and increase bycatch.
The Santiago Times