This is a huge blow for Chile, which had finally recovered from the devastating ISA outbreak in 2007 that saw production drop dramatically.
Following news of the recent outbreak, Sernapesca has activated strict control measures and biosecurity.
Chile's wild fish stocks also seem to be suffering. A recent report from Subpesca, titled "Balance of Major Chilean fisheries 2012" stated that three of Chile's fish stocks are& out of stock and 10 are overfished.
With the news of Chile's ISA outbreak, new research, such as that by Ian Bricknell, University of Maine, USA, into managing disease in integrated multitrophic aquaculture, will be welcomed.
Dr Bricknell has found that using mussels alongside salmon in an IMA system helps prevent ISA from affecting the fish as ISA cannot infect fish after mussels have stripped it of its lipid outer layer.
In the UK, a new report from Seafish has shown that the food chain should be the first choice for discarded fish that could be landed under a future discard ban, but when that is not practicable then utilisation for fishmeal or fish oil reduction for animal feed, is currently the next best option.
Seafish Project Manager, Michaela Archer, explained: "Under the Common Fisheries Policy reform proposals we know that a discard ban is going to be introduced. This will be a major change for the UK fishing industry. Whilst the main objective must be to avoid capturing unwanted fish in the first place, under the ban fishermen will be required to land all catches of regulated fish stocks and find outlets for them. In the event that a proportion of the discards can't be used directly in the food chain, alternatives have to be identified."
In company news, Greek companies Dias and Seonda have merged to form the largest sea bass and sea bream farming company in the world. Together, annual production of approximately 40,000 tones is expected.
Cermaq has acquired shares of the Peruvian fishmeal and fish oil company Copeinca. The acquisition sees Cermaq develop its position as an integrated marine protein company.
