Australis acquires salmonid roe producer

The Australis group, owned by Australis Seafoods, has acquired the Scottish-funded company Landcatch Chile which produces salmonid roe.

Australis has participated in the business of salmon fattening in sea water for two years through subsidiary Australis Mar SA.

Local demand for salmon roe is expected to grow, and at present about 80% used in the country are produced in Chile.

In 2009, Landcatch Chile produced 25 million roe and hopes to produce 40 million by 2010, and 65 million salmonid eggs by 2011. The broodstock were farmed in fresh water, safeguarding the sanitary condition, said Jose Manuel Bernales, company general manager.

Bernales added that the volumes Landcatch Chile could produce exceed the demand of Australis.

Landcatch will be a subsidiary of Australis Seafoods. Landcatch's annual sales range between US$8 million and US$9 million. It expects its share in the roe market to grow.