The best news is that, over the past year, all Chilean salmon producers lowered their use of antimicrobials. One of them even reached zero utilization.

Despite reaching a record of 1,107,109 tons of fish harvested, the AQI (Antimicrobial Consumption Index) decreased to 0.031 during 2023, dropping 3.1% to the lowest value in 12 years according to Sernapesca.

It should be noted that the AQI shows the amount of antimicrobials used in salmon per tons of fish harvested.

Likewise, regarding the consumption of closed cycle antimicrobials, which correspond to salmon fattening periods that ended their operation in 2023, the report says that during the last year the AQI was 228.37 g/t, which It means 44.01% less than 2022.

And the good news is that all Chilean salmon producers lowered their use of antimicrobials, but which ones decreased their AQI the most?

If we consider the companies that reduced their use of antibiotics by more than 50% last year, the list is headed by seven companies, where Ventisqueros leads with a decrease of 71% to 154.34 g/t.

Then, AquaChile follows with a drop in the use of antimicrobials of 68.2% to 157.09 g/t; Invermar with 66.2% at 341.64 g/t; Salmones Aysén with 65.5% at 19.44 g/t; Salmones Austral with 53.7% at 214.63 g/t; Marine Farm with 50.1% at 217.75 g/t.

For its part, Nova Austral managed to achieve zero use of antibiotics in its operations in 2023, according to the Sernapesca report, which was celebrated by salmon farming.

Source: www.salmonexpert.cl