Dead salmon due to algal bloom. (Photo: Sernapesca)

300 tonnes of dead salmon due to harmful algae dumped into sea

CHILE
Friday, March 11, 2016, 23:50 (GMT + 9)

More than 27,733 tonnes, equivalent to 72 per cent of the total salmon mortality caused by algae bloom, have been removed from the farms affected by this contingency, the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) informed.

In a new report on the emergency affecting the salmon farming industry in the region of Los Lagos, the entity pointed out that 38 farms have been affected by microalgae bloom in the Concession Groups (ACS) 1, 2, 3A, 6, 7, and 10B, with a total mortality amounting to 23.8 million fish, equivalent to more than 38,500 tonnes.

Alicia Gallardo, assistant director of Aquaculture, highlighted the logistical effort that has meant the removal of these mortality volumes, equivalent to 14 Olympic swimming pools full of salmon.

"125 boats have been used from offshore fishing firms (PAM), to artisanal vessels and wellboats (ships that are especially used to transport farmed fish) working with 24-hour shifts to prevent this contingency from causing an environmental or health emergency,” explained the official.

The mortality withdrawal from farms has been sent to processing plants in the X, XI and VIII regions.

In addition, as a preventive measure, Sernapesca is handling requests for the transfer of fish to other groups, within the framework of authorizations establishing exceptional measures that include all the macro-areas of Los Lagos Region.

For his part, Sernapesca national director, José Miguel Burgos, reported that the Navy authorized to dump 300 tonnes of mortality at sea, in a safe area established by the Undersecretariat of Fisheries.

This possibility was considered an emergency measure for those fish whose advanced decomposition state did not make it possible for them to be processed into fishmeal or put people at risk due to hydrogen sulfide emission so it would not be possible to dispose them in an on-land landfill.

"This dumping will be performed 75 miles out to sea, northwest of the island of Chiloe. This place meets the necessary technical guarantees as to depth and currents to avoid affecting fishing activities, sailing and environmental interest, as stipulated in the London Protocol that regulates waste dumping at sea at international level," explained Burgos.

With regard to the causes of this phenomenon, the head of the Aquaculture Division of the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Eugenio Zamorano, explained: "The weather conditions this summer in Los Lagos Region have shown strong anticyclone predominance over what is normal associated with the El Niño phenomenon. This has caused a deficit to date of about 70 per cent in rainfall, high temperatures, few clouds in the sky and less intense winds associated with mostly stable weather conditions. On the other hand, seawater temperature during the month of February 2016 have been higher than those recorded in previous years for the same period, 2-4 °C on the surface. While the temperature does not explain the presence of these blooms during this year, prolonged calm conditions and high insolation have taken place, key factors to start and maintain a harmful bloom".

Sernapesca recalled that in 1988, a similar algal bloom occurred in Chile, during which significant mortalities were also recorded in farmed salmon.

Related articles:

- More than 2000 tonnes of salmon converted into fishmeal and fish oil
- Sernapesca monitors dead salmon movement
- High mortality of salmon due to algae will be processed into fishmeal
- Salmon farming shares fall nearly 10pc due to harmful algal event
- Camanchaca loses 1.5 million salmon due to harmful algae

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