Aquaculture for all

Volcanic Eruption Prompts Movement of 11.5 Million Farmed Fish

Salmonids Health Welfare +7 more

CHILE - Following the eruption of Calbuco volcano on Wednesday 22 April, the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) has approved the movement of 11.5 million salmon from 10 fish farms in the effected area.

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A total of 13 centers are operational in the impact zone following the eruption of the volcano, it was reported on Wednesday.

Sernapesca said it has been assessing the biosecurity requirements for the transfer of fish, allowing the most urgent cases to be moved first.

By Thursday 23 April, six fish farms reported losses due to the eruption.

Regional Director of Sernapesca Los Lagos, Eduardo Aguilera, commented: "There are some areas which have reported substantial fish losses and there are others that have not yet been possible to establish what condition they are in due to the inability to access the site.

"In response to this, we have been working with the Ministry of Public Works to clear some routes and create access so that fish can be removed."

Sernapesca staff are also monitoring other areas that are in the impact zone which could be affected by fly ash.

José Miguel Burgos, National Director of Sernapesca, noted: "There are 11 fish farms located on lakes and two centers operating within the exclusion zone of 20 km ordered by the authority."

There are also 11 fish farms in operation outside the area of 20 km that could also be affected by the eruption. Five of them located on Lake Llanquihue. At present, three farms have applied to move fish.

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