Algae bloom kills millions of salmon in Chile

[Judi Lynn]

Algae bloom kills millions of salmon in Chile

Mar 2, 2016 The Associated Press

SANTIAGO, Chile – Toxic algae blooms have killed about 8 million salmon in Chile, officials said on Wednesday.

The Chilean national fisheries service said that about 18,000 tons have been lost in recent weeks due to algal blooming, which asphyxiates fish by decreasing oxygen in the water.

Chile is a major global exporter of salmon and its leading clients include the United States.

Authorities say that high temperatures stemming from El Nino weather pattern likely caused the algal bloom that first hit Chile’s salmon-growing southern regions of Aysen and Chiloe. It then spread to the Los Lagos region located about 620 miles (1,000 kilometres) south of the Chilean capital. The monetary losses have not been estimated yet.

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/business-news/algae-bloom-kills-millions-of-salmon-in-chile/

(Short article, no more at link.)

[pscot]

1. These must be farmed salmon?

Wild fish would move away while captive fish die in their pens.