Chilean report confirms antimicrobial use decrease in salmon farming

The Chilean National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) has published the 'Report on the Use of Antimicrobials and Antiparasitics in Salmon Farming' for 2023.

This year, the consumption of antimicrobials has decreased concerning annual use in freshwater and seawater, confirming the downward trend in the seawater phase over the past six years.

According to the National Director of Sernapesca, Soledad Tapia, this is the first report detailed by the company and the salmon farming concession group (ACS).

Therefore, it allows "advancing in the implementation of Law 21.532, marking a milestone for active transparency in our country by setting new standards in aquaculture. This is essential for a better society where we can foster active citizen involvement," she confirmed.

The use of antimicrobials in closed cycles

Regarding the consumption of antimicrobials in closed cycles, which corresponds to the fattening cycles of salmonids that completed their operation during 2023, the report indicates that during the last year, the Antimicrobial Consumption Index (ICA) was 44.01% less than the previous year. Finally, the report notes that only antimicrobials for veterinary use were used.

Furthermore, eleven producer companies, the Salmon Council, the Salmon Technology Institute (Intesal) of SalmonChile, the Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG), and Sernapesca presented in March the 'Yelcho Project' to reduce the use of antibiotics.

PROA-Salmon certification

The seawater fattening centers for the production cycle that reduce antimicrobials or avoid their use throughout the entire production cycle will receive the Program for the Optimization of Antimicrobial Use (PROA-Salmon) certification, awarded by Sernapesca.

Thanks to this, Tapia assured that there has been a progressive increase in the volume of annually harvested tons certified as PROA for the three productive species.

"This gives us great satisfaction to have a tool that positively promotes good practices in the application of treatments, encouraging the optimization of antimicrobial use," she concluded.

Sernapesca also carries out the Aquaculture Inspection Information System (SIFA) and several environmental inspections once the production cycle has been completed.

So far this year, the Chilean government has already issued the second mass notification to owners of 255 Salmon Farming Centers (CES) for possible overproduction.