Global Aquaculture Alliance — The Advocate
Few could argue that a reduction in sea lice-fighting chemicals isn't a win for the fish and for the environment. The downside, however, is that increasing numbers of cleaner fish are being caught for use on salmon farms.
Chile’s farmed salmon industry has had a rough decade. A lot is riding on its ability to work through the turbulence, including 70,000 jobs and $3.5 billion in annual sales. Is reducing production the answer?
In his first piece for the Advocate, industry veteran Phil Walsh, VP of Growth for Alfa Gamma Seafood Group in Miami, wonders why consumers are so comfortable with farm-raised land animals, but not farm-raised fish.
A unique pilot project supported by northern Chile’s biggest power-generating company and the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture is raising cobia in a recirculating aquaculture system in the desert.
Sea lice are a significant threat to the Chilean salmon-farming industry. Chilean salmon farmers also understand that prevention and good management practices based on biosecurity measures are the best tools to minimize outbreaks of disease.
Integrated aquaponic operations can improve water use efficiency because plants participate in nitrogen and phosphorus removal and integration.
While Chile’s mussel industry has entered a growth phase, challenges remain, especially in the seed production and grow-out components. This contrasts with the well-developed nature of the country’s processing plants and marketing outlets.
Environmental and fish health problems have affected Chile’s salmon farmers since 2004. As production ramped up, 2006 saw an increase in sea lice that reduced output. In 2007, infectious salmon anemia spread across the farming region and quickly cut production.
With favorable resources, local sources of eggs, availability of fishmeal and qualified labor, Chile has become the world’s top producer of rainbow trout.
For most mollusk resources, spat supply is not stable enough to sustain the growing industry. Competition for coastline space must also be considered.