August 30, 2010
Chilean January-June fish exports plunge 36.4%
Exports of fish from Chile's south central area fell by 36.4% between January and June of 2010, when compared to the same period last year.
The decline in exports from that area of the country, which accounts for 62% of the national catch, is mainly due to the earthquake and tsunami that occurred last February, which affected a large number of processing plants, mainly those producing fishmeal and frozen fillets noted Luis Felipe Moncada, manager of the Fishing Industry Association of BÃo BÃo A.G. (Asipes).
In total, the disaster damaged 10 out of the 14 fishmeal plants and 12 of the 17 unloading facilities.
Moncada also stated that horse mackerel landings fell by 62% during the first six months, due to the reduced availability of the fish as a result of foreign factory ships operating near the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
"During 2010, there have been reports of 30 factory ship sightings that were fishing for mackerel in the adjacent seas and as a result, nine support ships had to take control of the situation," he warned.
According to statistics from the Asipes, between January and June this year, 183,104 tonnes of horse mackerel was landed, while in the same period in 2009, the figure was 487,309 tonnes.
Also, during the first half of 2010, returns of US$215 million were obtained, compared to the US$339 million in 2009.
In the case of fishmeal, Moncada said that there was a negative change of 29% in foreign sales. When sales reached US$148 million compared to US$210 million in the same period of 2009, according to reports.
Meanwhile, the average price for the commodity during the first six months was US$1,626 per tonne, while last year it was US$1,050. In relation to frozen products, there was a decrease of 55% to US$37 million, compared with the US$84 million in the first half of 2009.
Mainly, frozen mackerel was exported 60% less for US$19 million, against US$47.9 million last year; while canned fish registered a significant decline in returns, by totalling US$21 million, 39% less than the same period last year (US$34.4 million).
