Salmon harvests fall by 29%

Christian Pérez

Comparison of results itemized by specie shows a 48.1% decrease in Atlantic salmon harvests to 157,320 tonnes; a 22.1% drop in Rainbow trout harvests to 94,732 tonnes; and a 16.4% increase in Coho salmon harvests to 60,123 tonnes.

Local eggs production totalized 451.4 million units in the first ten months of 2009 and 22.9 million only during October, separated in 8.7 million of Atlantic salmon eggs and 14.2 million of Rainbow trout eggs.

Meanwhile, imports of eggs totalized 118.5 million between January and October of 2009.

Total aquaculture exports as of October 2009 Species                        Tons 2008         Tons 2009              Variation (%) Atlantic salmon               303,281             157,320                     -48.1 Chilean mussel               169,745             140,783                     -17.1 Rainbow trout                 121,649               94,732                     -22.1 Coho salmon                    51,643               60,123                     16.4 Gracilaria                         15,357               17,604                      14.6 Northern scallop                14,787               13,413                      -9.3 Spirulina                            5,700                   100                        0.0 Pacific oyster                         877                     85                     -90.3 Others                               2,341                2,223                       -5.0 Total                              685,380             486,383                     -29.0

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