They obtained 37 thousand juveniles of this sought-after mollusc directly from Fundación Chinquihue’s hatchery.

After 40 years of activity as cultivators of pelillo (Agarophyton chilensis), a group of small-scale aquaculturists from Coihuín, sector Pelluco from the commune of Puerto Montt, Los Lagos region, launched a pilot to produce Pacific oysters (Giant scallop), molluscs of great commercial interest.

Its producers belong to the Sindicato San Pedro de Pelluco, which 38 years of existence It integrates 26 partners, between men and women, engaged in such productive activities.

Its president is Juan Santana Monje, who explains that they obtained 37 thousand seeds of this desired mollusk directly from hatchery de Chinquihue Foundation. Sowing took place in the first half of this year. "According to the current growth, we in December We should be selling by now," said the acuicultor.

For the artisan leader, "the experience has been positive because we see that the oyster has had a good growth." He believes there is indeed a potential. "This leaves me super happy. because I see growth and I see a future," he said.

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Prior to starting this crop, professionals from Fundación Chinquihue carried out a technical evaluation of the concession in which these alguos and algueras work. It is on the basis of this analysis that an innovative mollusc farming system was implemented, unpublished in Chile, seeking to advance in the productive diversification of the aquaculture companies considering, moreover, advice in parameters, monitoring and harvesting.

Jorge Tillería, head of hatchery Fundación Chinquihue explained that "four different cultivation systems were analyzed for this case, considering the different materials available in our country. These systems have been implemented in other countries, but in Chile they are not used." The professional said that "he finally opted for a horizontal suspended crop, which could have productive advantages in this kind of environment."  

Tillería added that the Pacific oyster "has been cultivated for many years in our country and depending on the environment we are in, We can grow it. with different types of systems."

In the same vein, he said that "the systems of cultivation of molluscs and other species in Chile must be improving and incorporating new technologies and good practices production to try to make the most of production. There is no doubt that in Chile there is still room for improvement in this area. The work we are doing from Fundación Chinquihue is the initial kick to advance in that line."

This initiative is financed through the competition "Small-scale aquaculture (SME) for Los Lagos region2023, of the National Institute for Sustainable Development of Small-scale Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (Indespa).

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*Photo credits: courtesy of Fundación Chinquihue.