Salmon harvests decreased 66% in 1Q 2010

Christian Pérez

A comparison of results itemized by specie shows a 77.2% decrease in Atlantic salmon harvests from 95,225 to 21,699 tonnes; a 39.9% drop in Rainbow trout harvests to 31,632 tonnes; and a 75.1% decrease in Coho salmon harvests to 12,307 tonnes.

Local roe production totalized 76.7 million units as of March formed by 28.1 million eggs of Atlantic salmon; 45.6 million eggs of Rainbow trout; and 2.9 million eggs of Coho salmon. Meanwhile, roe imports totalized 56.3 million in 1Q 2010, divided in 34.4% of Atlantic salmon eggs and 65.6% of Rainbow trout eggs.

Total aquaculture exports as of March 2010 Species                        Tons 2009      Tons 2010            Variation (%) Atlantic salmon                95,225             21,699                      -77.2 Chilean mussel                63,056             84,100                       33.4 Rainbow trout                  52,613             31,632                      -39.9 Coho salmon                   49,400             12,307                      -75.1 Gracilaria                          8,266               2,733                     -66.9 Northern scallop                2,586               2,180                      -15.7 Spirulina                                 0                     3                      100.0 Pacific oyster                         23                   49                     115.9 Others                                 961                 940                        -2.1 Total                             272,129            155,643                     -42.8

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