Multi X harvests early as algal bloom death toll rises in Magallanes
Chilean salmon farmer Multi X has initiated early harvesting at one of two sites affected by a harmful algal bloom (HAB) in the Magallanes region, reports Fish Farming Expert's Chilean sister site, Salmonexpert.cl.
Multi X announced last week that the HAB had caused the death of 300 tonnes of fish, and later said that this increased to 642.5 tonnes. State aquaculture agency Sernapesca reported on Tuesday this week that according an update from Multi X, the volume of mortality has reached 959.24 tonnes on Monday.
On October 8, the company’s Taraba 7 and 8 farms activated a contingency plan due to the mortality exceeding their ensilage and storage capacity.
The use of barges with mobile silage systems was arranged at the affected sites, along with the use of vessels for the removal of dead whole fish.
Multi X said the dead fish will be sent to reduction plants in Los Lagos region.
Strict process
State aquaculture agency Sernapesca said it was maintaining a presence at the sites and ensuring a strict inspection process of all stages associated with the handling of mortalities, verifying compliance with the sanitary conditions required for their collection, transport and final disposal.
“The goal is to verify the timely removal of mortality from the farms to the final destination, as well as to minimise the risk of algal bloom dissemination and safeguard the biosecurity of aquaculture activity and the marine environment,” said Ximena Gallardo, regional director of Sernapesca Magallanes.
In particular, the inspection teams supervise that authorised vessels operate under the established sanitary conditions, controlling the proper containment of mortalities during transport, the traceability of movements and compliance with the protocols defined for this type of contingency.
