March 7, 2007

Chile succeeds in breeding northern salmons in southern climes

Almost 60 percent of the salmon consumed in the US now eat comes from Chile, according to an industry news source.

In Chile, close to a thousand fish farms vie to supply the US with Atlantic salmon, salmon products and smoked salmon.

Despite the fact that salmon is not a native species in Chile, the country's salmon production is now catching up with industry leader Norway.

What makes Chile suitable as an ideal rearing ground for salmon is that the cold water conditions in the country mimics the natural habitat of the salmon at home.

However, local authorities are saying the salmon farms are running out of control and damaging the environment.

World Wildlife Fund employee Dave Tecklin said modern farms usually keep about a million fish, all feeding on fishmeal. The enormous amounts of waste generated is concentrated in a small area when in the wild they would have been dispersed, he said. 

Still, a recent US study found that Chilean farmed salmon is healthier than farmed salmon from the North Pacific and Norway due to the better water quality there. The study is expected to generate even more demand for Chilean salmon.