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ICES Journal of Marine Science: Journal du Conseil 2006 63(7):1338-1345; doi:10.1016/j.icesjms.2006.04.021
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© 2006 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea

A review of the impacts of salmonid farming on marine coastal ecosystems in the southeast Pacific

Alejandro H. Buschmanna,*, Verónica A. Riquelmea, María C. Hernández-Gonzáleza, Daniel Varelaa, Jaime E. Jiménezc, Luis A. Henríqueza, Pedro A. Vergarab, Ricardo Guíñezd and Luis Filúnb

a i-mar, Universidad de Los Lagos Casilla 556, Puerto Montt, Chile
b Departamento de Acuicultura y Recursos Acuáticos, Universidad de Los Lagos Casilla 933, Osorno, Chile
c Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad de Los Lagos Casilla 933, Osorno, Chile
d Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas, Facultad de Recursos del Mar, Universidad de Antofagasta Casilla 170, Antofagasta, Chile

*Correspondence to A. H. Buschmann: tel: +56 65 322429; fax: +56 65 322418. e-mail: abuschma{at}ulagos.cl.

The production of farmed salmonids in Chile reached 550 000 t in 2004. The industry is considered to be consolidated, but with potential for further expansion to the south into pristine coastal areas. The environmental impacts of the salmonid farming industry in Chile were reviewed in 1996, and evidence at that time did not suggest significant adverse effects. However, after almost ten years of sustained growth, current evidence indicates that significant loss of benthic biodiversity and localized changes in the physico-chemical properties of sediments have occurred in areas with salmonid farms. Furthermore, the presence of these farms significantly increases in pulses the density of dinoflagellates. Data suggest that escaped farmed fish may have an impact on native species, although their survival in the wild appears low. The abundance of omnivorous diving and carrion-feeding marine birds increased from twofold to fivefold in areas with salmon farms compared with control areas without them. It is urgent that an ecosystem approach be implemented to assess all impacts of salmonid farming on coastal ecosystems in southern Chile.

Keywords: biodiversity, Chile, environmental effects, fish escapees, nutrient loads, salmon culture

Received 17 September 2005; accepted 17 April 2006.


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