Salmon harvests decreased 35%

Christian Pérez

Comparison of results itemized by specie shows a 50.6% decrease in Atlantic salmon harvests to 168,927 tonnes; a 23.8% drop in Rainbow trout harvests to 103,110 tonnes and an 18.6% increase in Coho salmon harvests to 82,165 tonnes.

Local eggs production totalized 479.5 million units in the first eleven months of 2009 and 22.9 million only during November, separated in 7.7 million of Atlantic salmon eggs and 15.2 million of Rainbow trout eggs.

Meanwhile, imports of eggs totalized 122.7 million between January and November of 2009.

Total aquaculture exports as of November 2009 Species                        Tons 2008         Tons 2009              Variation (%) Atlantic salmon                341,934             168,927                      -50.6 Chilean mussel                176,591             156,411                      -11.4 Rainbow trout                  135,330             103,110                       -23.8 Coho salmon                    69,283               82,165                        18.6 Gracilaria                          18,654               19,280                         3.4 Northern scallop                18,610               15,364                       -17.4 Spirulina                            5,900                    100                         0.0 Pacific oyster                         879                     90                       -89.8 Others                               2,856                 3,660                        28.2 Total                              770,037             549,107                       -28.7

Source: Chilean Fisheries Under-Secretariat (Subpesca) upon figures from the National Customs Service and the Instituto de Fomento Pesquero (IFOP).