Harvest volumes drop 11%
Total salmonid harvest volumes in Chile decreased in January - even before the high mortalities caused by recent algae blooms - compared to the same month of 2015, due largely to a steep drop in coho harvests.
In total 73,898 tonnes were harvested in January 2016, representing an 11 per cent decrease compared to the same month of the previous year (82,990 tonnes), according to figures submitted by the Association of the Chilean Salmon Industry (Salmonchile), which represents about 95 per cent of the country's Atlantic salmon production.
A comparison of results itemized by species shows a 1.7 per cent increase in Atlantic salmon harvests, from 46,723 tonnes to 47,531 tonnes; a 23.2 per cent increase in the rainbow trout harvests, up to 8,562 tonnes; and a 39.3 percent decrease in the Coho salmon harvests, which fell to 17,806 tonnes.
In geographical terms, the Region of Los Lagos contributed with 61.6 per cent of all harvests in January 2016, followed by the regions of Aysén (31.4%) and Magallanes (7.0%).
These figures corresponds to 95 per cent of the Chilean production of Atlantic salmon, 61 per cent of trout and 76 per cent of coho.
