Salmon processing. (Photo: Multiexports Foods)

Aquaculture sector harvests grew 17pct through October

CHILE
Monday, December 18, 2017, 21:30 (GMT + 9)

The total harvest of the aquaculture sector accumulated up to the month of October reached 909,000 tonnes, 17 per cent more than that recorded in the same period of 2016, according to preliminary statistics from the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SUBPESCA).

The main resources were Atlantic salmon, mussels and Pacific salmon, which contributed 50.6 per cent, 33 per cent and 7.8 per cent, respectively of the total harvested in the first ten months of this year.

The total fish harvest reached a total of 592,000 tonnes, 14.8 per cent higher than that recorded at the same date in 2016, and that was attributed to the recovery after the event of harmful algal blooms (HAB) had occurred last year.

The contribution of the fish harvests to the accumulated total of national aquaculture harvests was 65 per cent.

The harvest level of Atlantic salmon accumulated up to October 2017 was 460,000 tonnes, 10 per cent more than in the same period of 2016.

A total of 61,000 tonnes of rainbow trout were harvested, which meant an increase of 4.9 per cent compared to the same month of 2016.

The harvest levels of Pacific salmon accumulated as of October 2017 were 71,000 tonnes, representing a year-on-year growth of 79 per cent. According to SUBPESCA, this is explained by the decisions of the private sector to face regulatory, environmental and market changes.

Regarding the availability of eggs, until October 2017 the production was 583 million eggs, 6 per cent more than in 2016. The proportion by species is 66 per cent of Atlantic salmon, 19 per cent of Pacific salmon and 15 per cent of rainbow trout.

The import of eggs accumulated up to October 2017 totalled 7 million units of Atlantic salmon, coming from Iceland.

SUBPESCA's report also indicates that the total harvested of molluscs in October reached 305,000 tonnes. This volume reflects a growth of 24 per cent year-on-year and represented 34 per cent of the harvests accumulated nationwide during the first ten months of this year.

The accumulated harvests of mussels (Chilean mussel) reached a total of 300,000 tonnes, 24 per cent higher than that observed in the same period of 2016. This growth is attributed to the good caliber of the product, and also to the quality of the food and its high body conversion rate.

Of Northern oyster a total of 2,900 tonnes was harvested, representing an increase of 1.4 per cent year-on-year.

Finally, the report states that the total harvested of algae as of October 2017, recorded a level of 11,500 tonnes, which represented 1.3 per cent of total harvests nationwide, showing an increase of 5.4 per cent with respect to the same month of 2016. The seaweed represented 100 per cent of algae production.

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