MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile fish and shellfish landings fall almost 10% in nine months of 2009

Patagonian toothfish catches experience a slight increase, 14.2%

Total fish and shellfish landings through September in Chile totalled 3.6 million tons –9.8% less than the 3.9 million tons accumulated in the same period of 2008, the Fisheries Under-Secretariat (SUBPESCA) revealed.

According to the latest Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector Report, the wild capture fisheries and aquaculture sectors contributed some 3.1 million tons and 485,000 tons, respectively, to the total harvest in the first nine months of the year.

An estimated 63.2% of wild fish landings consisted of pelagic resources, a slightly higher percentage than the 61.6% registered last year. Jack mackerel, common sardine, and anchovy landings constituted 24.3%, 22.7% and 22.3%, respectively.

Jointly, Regions V-X received the largest share of these landings in receiving 1.7 million tons or 73.8% of the total. Further behind, Regions XV and II received 519,600 tons – 22.7% of the total – meanwhile Regions III and IV registered 81,000 tons – representing 3.5% of the total.

Southern hake accounted for 17,300 tons of demersal fish landings in the year through September - 5.3% less compared to the same period in 2008. The industrial fleet contributed the most, with 9,500 tons, followed by the 7,800 tons harvested by the artisanal fleet.

Common hake landings from January through September totalled 36,000 tons, 4.7% decrease in volume over the same period of 2008, according to SUBPESCA. The industrial sector contributed 73.8% of total landings, with 26.600 tons; and the artisanal sector, 9,400 tons.

Landings of Patagonian toothfish (Chilean sea bass) registered 2,000 tons through the ninth month of 2009, a 14.2% hike over the 1,800 tons landed in September 2008.

An estimated 4,100 tons of yellow shrimp, 2,600 tons of squat lobster and 1,700 tons of golden kingclip were landed through the first nine months of the year, 49.8% boost over 2008.

Meanwhile, the aquaculture harvest totalled 438,900 tons through August, 16% slide from the 522,500 tons harvested in the same period of 2008, reports by the National Fisheries Service (SERNAPESCA) reveal.

The main products harvested were Atlantic salmon, mussels, and rainbow trout, which each accounted for 32.2%, 31.2%, and 19.7% of total production at the national level, respectively. Regions X and XI harvested the highest total output: 282,200 tons and 128,200 tons, respectively.

The Atlantic salmon harvest totalled 141,500 tons through August – 28.4% less than the volume accumulated in the same period of 2008 (197,700 tons). Most of the production came from Regions XI (84,300 tons) and X (49,000 tons).

The mussel harvest, almost entirely produced by Region X, fell by 14.4% from 160,000 tons through August 2008 to 137,000 tons during the same period this year.

Meanwhile, Pacific salmon harvests totalled 86,500 tons through the eighth month of the year, 5.3% less than the 91,300 tons reported through August 2008. The majority of production originated from Regions X and XI, with 51,900 tons and 30,700 tons, respectively. (FIS/MP).-