Chile's salmon industry launches programme to cut back on heavy antibiotic use

Santiago

CHILE'S salmon industry, the second-largest in the world, is trying to cut back its heavy use of antibiotics, which pollute the environment and could cause new super-bacteria to emerge.

Facing heavy competition from top producer Norway - whose salmon industry uses a fraction of the antibiotics Chile's does - Chilean salmon farmers, pharmaceutical groups and fish food suppliers have launched a programme to kick their controversial habit.

Chile's coastal waters have recently been awash with a bacteria called Piscirickettsia sal…