MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile exports 154m dollars of mussels in eight months; Galicia still out of the market

Production and export of mussels in Chile increased slightly but income in dollars climbed 5.9%

In the first eight months of the year, Jan-August, Chile exported 52,077 tons of mussels (Mytilus chilensis), a rise of 1.8%, compared to the same period a year ago. However in dollars the result was 154.3 million dollars, up 5.9% compared to the 145.7 million dollars of the eight months of 2013, reports InfoTrade. Meanwhile northeast Spain mussel farms continue ravaged by the red toxin algae.

St Andrews Smokey Delicacies remained as the leading Chilean exporting company with 8.052 tons of mussels totaling 22.5 million dollars. Blue Shell followed with 6.486 tons and 18.6 million dollars and Cultivos Marinos del Pacífico, 5.592 tons and 15.5 million dollars.

Other major exporters were Sudmaris Chile, with 4,900 tons and 13.2m dollars and Pesquera Trans Antartic, 1,956 tons and 11.6m dollars.

According to Infotrade, the average price for the Chilean mussel export industry was 2.96 dollars per kilo, compared to the 2.85 dollars for the first eight months of last year

Chile's National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (SERNAPESCA), reported that the mussel harvest in the first eight months to August was 205,800 tons, 9.4% less than in the first eight months of 2013 (227,260 tons). All the mussel harvest originated in Chile's southern Region X.

Meanwhile from Spain it was reported that the red tide toxin which virtually knocked out the mussel industry in Galicia is receding. As a consequence some raft polygons are being allowed to again operate.

Of all the five open polygons, two are from Ria de Arousa (Ribeira C and Pobra H), two others are in Vigo (Cangas E and Redondela A) and one in Ares, Sada 1, according to the head of the Technological Institute for the Control of Marine Environment, Intecmar, Covadonga Salgado.

Mr. Salgado said Ribeira B and Vigo A tested negative and the ban will also be lifted as soon as a second favorable sampling is achieved, the newspaper Faro de Vigo informed. In the rest of Galicia there are now 29 open and 26 closed polygons.

The polygons of the estuaries of Muros-Noia and Pontevedra remain completely closed for mussel capture, and in Vigo there are seven open and six closed. (FIS).-