Relying on local roe
Chile's roe production has increased 37.5 per cent compared to the first five months of 2015, while imports of eggs have decreased 92.9 per cent in the same period.
Information submitted by the Undersecretariat of Fisheries (Subpesca) shows that the Chilean roe production totaled 251 million eggs up to the end of of May - a 37.5 per cent increase compared to the same period of the previous year.
Atlantic salmon represents 60.8 per cent of the local eggs this year, followed by coho salmon with 25.6 per cent and rainbow trout, with 13.6 per cent.
There were no roe imports in April and May this year. So far, 2.53 million eggs have been imported compared to 35.46 million in the first five months of 2015, representing a 92.9 per cent decrease.
Atlantic salmon eggs from Iceland represent 65 per cent of the imports, while rainbow trout eggs from Denmark accounted for the remaining 35 percent.
The Chilean salmon industry imported nearly 300 million eggs in 2007 and 2008 but has been gradually reducing those imports since - to about 100 million in 2010, less than 50 million by 2013 and barely over 40 million in 2014 and 2015.
