An algal bloom was responsible for the deaths of approximately 170,000 salmon reared in Chile as they were being transported by boat through infested waters.
Some of the fish being transported were headed for harvest and others were smolt heading from freshwater farm sites to grow-out cages in saltwater.
The Chilean government's fishing and aquaculture body Sernapesca has advised that the bloom is not located near any salmon farms but has instead contaminated some shipping lanes that are used by producers.
Nevertheless, there is concern in the supply chain following last year’s algal bloom that killed up to 25 million salmon – some 20 percent of the harvest.
The 2016 bloom was estimated to have cost the industry around USD 800 million (EUR 751.8 million) in lost trade. Despite this and other challenges, Chile was forecast to produce 650,000 metric tons (MT) of salmon in 2016.
