Seafood capture landings performed by the artisanal fleet. (Photo: Albert Arias Arthur)

Seafood landings continue falling

CHILE
Tuesday, June 30, 2015, 21:50 (GMT + 9)

Wild and farmed seafood landings maintained the negative trend recorded in the first four-month period, reaching a total of 1.3 million tonnes through May this year, representing 21.9 per cent less than in the first five months of 2014, when 1.7 million tonnes were landed.

According to the latest Sector Report on Fisheries and Aquaculture prepared by the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SUBPESCA), the fishing sector contributed 984,400 tonnes between January and May, 2015 (73.3 per cent of the total).

Landings of pelagic resources totalled 815,000 tonnes, 20 per cent less than in the first five months of 2014.

Sardine, anchovy and horse mackerel respectively accounted for 32.3 per cent, 30.9 per cent and 20.3 per cent of landings in the accumulated capture sector until May 2015. These landings were concentrated mainly in Regions V and X, which together received 62.2 per cent of the total. Regions XV and II received 29.1 per cent; and Regions III and IV got 8.7 per cent.

Out of the total pelagic volume landed, the artisanal sector caught 54.7 per cent; while the other 45.3 per cent was captured by industrialists.

As to catches of demersal fisheries, up to May 2015 a total of 5,100 tonnes of southern hake had been landed, representing 14.5 per cent less than in the same period in 2014 (6,000 tonnes). The main contribution came from the artisanal fleet, with 3,400 tonnes, while industrial vessels landed 1,700 tonnes.

SUBPESCA also reported that hake landing accumulated up to May this year totalled 6,800 tonnes, representing a decrease of 27.1 per cent compared to 2014 (9,300 tonnes).

In the first five months of this year further 1,400 tonnes of Patagonia toothfish (Chilean sea bass) were landed, 82.7 per cent more than in the same period in 2014 (760 tonnes).

Meanwhile, the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (SERNAPESCA) reported that aquaculture harvests totalled 358,230 tonnes through May, representing a decrease of 32.8 per cent compared to the same period of 2014, when 533,350 tonnes had been harvested.

The main resources produced nationally were Atlantic salmon, mussels and Pacific salmon, which accounted respectively for 48.7 per cent, 43 per cent and 3.7 per cent of the total harvest. Regions X and XI generated most of the harvest: a total of 247,900 tonnes and 93,800 tonnes, respectively.

Atlantic salmon harvests totalled 174,450 tonnes in May 2015, 34.1 per cent less than the volume accumulated in the same period of 2014 (264,760 tonnes). Most of the production came from Regions XI (86,000 tonnes) and X (74,300 tonnes).

Mussel harvests totalled 154,130 tonnes up to May 2015, 1.1 per cent less than the volume accumulated in the same period of 2014 (155,820 tonnes). 100 per cent of the harvests came from Region X.

Finally, Pacific salmon harvests reached 13,400 tonnes, 70.2 per cent less than the accumulated volume in the first five months of 2014 (44,900 tonnes). Most of the production was provided by Regions X (69.8 per cent) and XI (30.2 per cent).

By Analia Murias
[email protected]
www.seafood.media
 

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