Salmon harvests increased 50% as of May

Christian Pérez

A comparison of results itemized by specie shows a 61.5% increase in the Atlantic salmon harvests from 38,567 tonnes to 62,294 tonnes; a 19.8% increase in the Rainbow trout harvests to 59,877 tonnes; and a 128.1% increase in the Coho salmon harvests to 30,846 tonnes.

Regarding local roe stocks, they totalized 313.1 million units as of May: 59.9% of Atlantic salmon eggs, 7.5% of Rainbow trout eggs and 32.6% of Coho salmon eggs. Meanwhile, roe imports totalized 64.8 million as of May, separated in 68.7% of Rainbow trout eggs and 31.3 % of Atlantic salmon eggs.

Total aquaculture exports as of May 2011 Species                    Tons 2010       Tons 2011              Variation (%) Atlantic salmon                38,567             62,294                       61.5 Chilean mussel              163,395           171,236                         4.8 Rainbow trout                  49,985             59,877                       19.8 Coho salmon                   13,522             30,846                     128.1 Gracilaria                          4,254               6,553                       54.0 Northern scallop                 5,635              2,347                      -58.3 Spirulina                                 3                     0                         0.0 Pacific oyster                         62                    58                       -6.7 Others                              1,638               3.403                     107.7 Total                             277,061           336,613                       21.5

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