Production of coho salmon more than trebled in Chile's Los Lagos region

The volume of coho salmon processed in Chile’s Los Lagos region almost quadrupled in July this year, from 6,722 tonnes in July 2025 to 24,136 tonnes, reports Fish Farming Expert's Chilean sister site, Salmonexpert.cl.

The increase was the reason for a 13,445-tonne (13.4%) year-on-year rise in the total volume of farmed and caught seafood processed in the region, according to the According to the Fisheries and Aquaculture Industry Bulletin prepared by the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

Atlantic salmon continued to lead production by a wide margin at the processing plants in Los Lagos region. In July, 69,724 tonnes were processed, representing 61.2% of the regional seafood total. However, this was 3% (2,158 tonnes) lower than in the same month in 2025, when 71,882 tonnes were processed.

More coho

Coho salmon showed a different trajectory, with production increasing by 17,414 tonnes. This made coho salmon the main driver of positive growth in the period, although the INE noted that the increase was influenced by a low base of comparison in July 2025.

In contrast, rainbow trout experienced a significant year-on-year decrease. Regional processing plants processed 4,569 tonnes in July, compared to 7,556 tonnes in the same month last year. This represents a 39.5% drop in production, equivalent to 2,987 fewer tonnes. The species accounted for 4% of the total fisheries and aquaculture production in Los Lagos region.

Mussel production increased year-on-year by 5,833 tonnes (97%) to 11,845 tonne during July. This volume represented 10.4% of the regional seafood total.

Puerto Montt

Puerto Montt remained the municipality with the highest fish and aquaculture manufacturing production, reaching 33,801 tonnes and accounting for 29.6% of the regional total. This figure, however, represented a year-on-year decrease of 3.1%. Quellón ranked second, with 29,858 tonnes and a 26.2% share, registering strong growth of 113.4% year-on-year, equivalent to an additional 15,866 tonnes.

The third-largest volume came from Calbuco, where fish and aquaculture plants produced 16,346 tonnes, equivalent to 14.3% of the regional total. Unlike Quellón, the municipality registered a year-on-year contraction of 39.7%, representing a decrease of 10,745 tonnes.

According to INE, Quellón was among the main positive contributors to regional growth during July, while Calbuco had the greatest negative impact.