Chile appears to have dodged a large-scale algae bloom like the one it experienced in 2016, which decimated Chile’s salmon farming industry.
The industry and authorities have been on high alert since a rise in harmful algae species since mid-January, and issued a formal alert in mid-February after a number of fisheries reported an uptick in salmon deaths in the Aysen region farther south.
A recent report from the Research Center of Harmful Algae (CREAN), which was created by Chile’s fisheries authorities in the wake of the 2016 bloom, found that key fishing areas in Chiloe and the Lakes District are showing normal level of the Alexandrium catenella species. The situation to the north also appears to be normal, according to the report, with only one of the three monitoring stations reported micro algae at a very low level.
The report compiled data taken between 9 to 16 February, using temperature gauges, the results of regular water sampling, and satellite images to come to its conclusion.
Although this year’s bloom is – so far - greatly below the levels the blooms reached in 2016, the concern and rise in salmon deaths has been enough to attract international press and statements from Salmon Chile.
Authorities have declared a red tide alert and prohibited the sale and consumption of shell fish in Aysen and Chiloe, where three cases of intoxication linked to infected shellfish have been confirmed by local radio outlet ADN Radio.
Among Chile’s salmon farming companies, Invermar has been the most affected thus far, losing approximately 1,600 metric tons of salmon valued at USD 8 million (EUR 6.5 million), according to Reuters, which reported that the company’s operation and losses were insured.
