September 10, 2009
Virus-hit Chilean fish farms may benefit British Columbia farmers
The virus that has hit fish farms in Chile could become a bonus for British Columbia's salmon farmers - if they can take advantage.
According to a report, prices have risen by between 10 and 15 percent in the last six months due to a lack of product on the market.
B.C. Salmon Farmers Association executive director Mary Ellen Walling said that while NOPrway was taking up the slack in the US market, British Columbia has been restricted due to constraints on growth locally.
Global supply of farmed salmon is estimated to fall by 10.3 percent to 1.3 million tonnes this year following the outbreak of the Infectious Salmon Anemia virus at Chilean farms.
Norwegian-based Marine Harvest ASA, the world's largest salmon farmer, expects supply to fall short of demand as Chile's output will take as long as six years to return to levels seen before a virus ravaged its fish farms.
