Fish as feed inputs for aquaculture: practices, sustainability and implications

298 Fish as feed inputs for aquaculture – Practices, sustainability and implications

or common sardine, which contributed,

respectively, about 45.4, 30.0 and 12.9 percent of

the total accumulated landings for 2006 (Figure

5).

Jack mackerel is the main fishery resource

that sustains the industrial activity from Atacama

(Region III) to Los Lagos (Region X). Along the

Chilean coast, jack mackerel has been considered

a key target species for national fisheries. This

species represents, in terms of volume, one of

the most important fishery resources in Chile

and the world (Arcos, Cubillos and Núñez,

2001). In Chile, the maximum historical total

landing for this species was 4.4 million tonnes

in 1995. From 1996, a marked reduction in

the captures of this species was observed, and

catches have been constant

during the last five years,

with an average close to

1 .4 million tonnes (Table

2).

Common sardine

or Araucarian herring

(Strangomera bentincki)

together with anchoveta

(Engraulis ringens)

represent the second most

important resource for the

fishery activity in the center-

south of Chile. Sardine is

largely distributed along

the Chilean coast from

Coquimbo to Chiloe, while

anchoveta occurs from

Peru to Chiloe. In Chile,

the fishery activity for these

species is mainly localized

in Bio-Bio (Region VIII).

There has been a reduction

in the landings for these

two species as a result of

increased regulation and

reduced effort by the

industrial fleet for these resources.

The major proportion of pelagic fish landings in Chile is principally concentrated

in the area between Regions V and X, with landings of almost 2.1 millions tonnes (70

percent), while in Regions I and II, the total landings reached around 795 thousand

tonnes (26 percent). Regions III and IV, with 120.6 thousand tonnes, represent

only the 4 percent of the national landings (Figure 6).

2.3 Fishing zones

For administrative purposes, until 2006 Chile was divided into five fishing zones, each

of which was headed and regulated by a Fishing Zone Council that was integrated

Fresh fish stall at the main artisanal fish market in the port city of Coquimbo, northern

Chile. In spite of the abundant fish stocks, annual consumption of fish is low in Chile,

at about 7 kg per person. It may look like smoked fish but in fact is an optical effect

of the picture.

Fresh fish stall at the fish market in the port city of

Coquimbo, Chile

Courtesy of Adrian Hernandez

Source: SERNAPESCA (2006)

FIGURE 6

Distribution of pelagic fish landings by fishing

zone for the year 2006 (tonnes)

794 996

(26%)

120 622

2 095 701(70%) (4%)

Regions I and II Regions III and IV Regions V to X