According to Sernapesca, salmon mortality rates are 'within the expected maximum levels for the season.' (Photo: Sernapesca)

Salmon mortality level rises in H1

CHILE
Friday, August 17, 2012, 23:50 (GMT + 9)

Between January and June 2012, there was an increase in salmon mortality level over the same six month period of 2011, according to the National Fisheries Service (Sernapesca) indicated in a technical report.

For example, in April it reached a peak of 1.67 per cent, doubling the figure for the same month last year, which had been 0.81 per cent.

And in June it reached 0.98 per cent while in the same month of 2011 a level of 0.57 per cent had been reached.

Nevertheless, the official document stresses that the values are "within the maximum levels expected for the season."

With respect to Atlantic salmon, the lowest mortality level was observed in June, when it reached 0.65 per cent. However, this level is double that recorded in the sixth month of 2011, which had been 0.32 per cent, Diario Financiero reported.

The highest figure was in May, when it reached 1.11 per cent. The 28.7 per cent of Atlantic salmon mortality level was classified as 'secondary' and 83.2 per cent of that level was attributed to Salmon Rickettsial Syndrome (SRS).

Sernapesca noted that every month mortality is "within the safety zone, except for May [danger zone], depending on the endemic corridor."

Furthermore, Pacific salmon mortality level reached 0.72 per cent in June 2012 -- the lowest one of the year --, while the maximum level was recorded in April, with 1.96 per cent. Both percentages are higher than those in the same months of 2011, which had been 0.54 per cent and 0.63 per cent, respectively.

About 50.6 per cent of the mortality level was classified as 'secondary' with 96 per cent of which was attributed to the SRS.

Sernapesca emphasized that the figures "do not exceed 2 per cent per month, except for the rainbow trout, which in the months of March, April and May presents the highest increase."

In this case, 9.6 per cent of the mortality level was classified as 'secondary', and 47.77 per cent was attributed to SRS.

Because of the "high prevalence" of Salmon Rickettsial Syndrome, Sernapesca will strengthen control actions.

On the other hand, a diagnosis was carried out for the detection of Piscine reovirus (PRV) agent, which causes the inflammation of the fish’s heart and skeletal muscle.

During control measures, the Service detected the agent in Atlantic salmon farming centres. Therefore, it anticipated that the Undersecretariat of Fisheries will be recommended to include the species in the List 3 of high-risk diseases.

"The trend of these indicators offers us a warning light and due to this fact we must intensify Sernapesca preventive and control measures," said the National Service Director, José Luis Ansoleaga.

While Germán Iglesias, Aquaculture deputy director, stressed: "Rather than worry [about mortality due to SRS], attention and dedication is generated and we are urged to resolutely move towards an official SRS Control and Surveillance, which will be implemented this second semester," informed Fundación Terram.

"There are other issues we're trying to solve, since not all the centres and companies show a similar behaviour. In that sense, in the groups most at risk, we will conduct active research in those centres having higher mortality levels," Iglesias concluded.

Related article:

- Salmon high mortality rate concerns Subpesca

By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

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