Chapter 26 - Scallop Fishery and Aquaculture in Chile: A History of Developments and Declines

The main Chilean scallop production turned from fisheries to aquaculture during the 1990s, with a very rapid growth, which reached its maximum in 2004. Chile during that time was the third largest scallop producer worldwide. During the time as one of the leading scallop aquaculture producers, research flourished as well as various engineering aspects to aid this growing industry. Re-circulating aquaculture as well genetic research started targeting the main Chilean scallop species, Argopecten purpuratus, the northern scallop. Also, environmental studies pointing towards comparisons between natural versus cultured populations were performed, management of natural beds became attractive, as well as comparative studies of the presence and intensity of biofouling and potential harmful parasites and/or bacteria. Research has done little with regard to diversification of products, and scallops were mainly sold fresh or quick frozen. This boom lasted only close to two decades, and in the last years the production dropped steadily, with Chile being replaced by Peru, who produces the same species. The scallop aquaculture industry has diminished from a peak of over 26,000 mt production of A. purpuratus, to barely reaching 5000 mt now. The other exploited two scallop species are distributed in southern Chile, Zygochlamys patagonica and Chlamys vitrea. These species were never produced through aquaculture, and landings have been constant over the years with no large increases or declines.