The numbers now stand at 160 compared to 356 in June last year according to a report from SalmonChile, the Chilean salmon industry association.
The drop has been put down mainly to the effects of the ISA virus.
The number of farms with entering smolts has fallen 80 per cent.
SalmonChile says the number of farms with entering smolts fell from 52 to 10 in the same period.
"This situation is explained by the uncertainty caused by the financial and sanitary status of the industry," the SalmonChile general manager Carlos Odebret during a seminar organized by GEQ Chile and CI Comunicaciones, Fish Farming Xpert reports.
The number of farms harvesting salmon has also changed radically in the period decreasing by 48 per cent from 87 to 45.
"This productive condition will affect exports and reduce markets in the short run, increasing the costs and impacting on local employment" Carlos Odebret concluded.
Chilean Salmon Farms Halved
CHILE - Chile has seen a drop in the number of salmon farming centres fall by 55 per cent over the last year.
