Farmed trout in Chile: an endangered specie

Christian Pérez Multiexport Foods expects that the Chilean production of Rainbow trout will totalize close to 150 000 tonnes this year, representing a 35 percent decrease compared to about 230 000 tonnes in 2012. Likewise, Blumar expects this decrease to be of around 40 percent. According to some local producers, the bad sanitary performance seen with this specie in the past years would be the main reason behind this production decision. For example, Camanchaca reveals that the Chilean industry recorded in the first half-year an average of 1.97 Kg of fish per smolt. Meanwhile, the accumulated mortality rate for Rainbow trout has increased up to 21.4 percent, the average harvest weight has decreased down to 2.43 Kg and the time these fish spent at the sea has increased up to 11.17 months. As a consequence, most of the Chilean salmon producing companies have started reducing the number of farming sites intended for Rainbow trout. For example, Australis Seafoods produced 4,081 tonnes WFE of Rainbow trout in 2011, 10,496 tonnes WFE in 2012 and zero tonne this year. In contrast, most of these companies have started stocking Atlantic salmon smolts in those farms. Piscirickettsia salmonis and sea lice would be the main drivers behind the bad sanitary results experienced with Rainbow trout by the local salmon industry in the past months.