Salmon eggs. (Photo: StockFile)

Consortium obtains first Atlantic salmon eggs

CHILE
Wednesday, June 27, 2012, 23:00 (GMT + 9)

A consortium formed by the companies Blumar Seafoods SA and Acuinova Chile obtained their first production of Atlantic salmon eggs with 100 per cent production cycle on land.

The two companies partnered in 2011 to give rise to Chilebreed SpA in order to achieve sustainable production of salmon with genetic material having the highest quality.

And after just over a year of activities, their efforts have begun to bear fruit: obtaining more than two million eggs, announced Chilebreed general manager, Felipe Almendras.

Unlike most salmon firms in the country, Chilebreed decided to rent a fish farm in Los Lagos District, which was updated in accordance with health and production requirements.

In this place there is a lot of well water at 11 °C which allows a good steady growth throughout the year, and river water that contributes to generating thermal breaks that are necessary for reproductive management, Aqua reported.

The proponents of the initiative began with the stocking process of three different fish generations that were 100 per cent from fresh water in tested and approved facilities.

Besides, the consortium has a genetic supply contract which provides 'Elite' fertilized eggs, which have genetic and health support.

In another fish farm located in La Araucanía Region, which is also leased, Chilebreed performs reproducers spawning and incubation until the eyed egg stage.

"While the idea of this consortium began to take shape in 2009, it was in 2011 when we started our activities and it has been a tremendous achievement to have a first production one year after starting. Having followed the traditional way, the results would not have been so quick," pointed out Almendras.

The consortium has already invested about USD 4 million and employs over 20 people.

By 2013 the goal is to reach a production of 15 million eyed eggs, and by 2014 about 60 million eyed eggs.

Chilebreed executives intend to continue looking for better conditions so that all their eggs come from fish parents who have been all their lives in confined systems and in fresh water.

To do this, the short-term purchase of land is being assessed to build a fish farm that meets all the requirements of the new production model: access to the water source, well and sea water.

Related article:

- Soaring demand for salmon eggs

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

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