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சுருக்கம்

Pre-feasibility Study for the Installation of a Chilean Mussel Mytilus chilensis (Hupe, 1854) Seed Hatchery in the Lakes Region, Chiles

Uriarte I, Carrasco AV, Astorga M, Cisterna A, Farías A, Espinoza V

Chile is the fourth world’s largest producer of mussels, concentrating 90% of the production of Mytilus chilensis, the Chilean mussel or Patagonian mussel, in the Lakes Region (40°13’ to 44°3’ S, 74°49’ to 71°34’ W). The mussel seed production in Chile depends exclusively on natural collection and currently faces a serious seed shortage crisis, with a decrease of 15% in natural collection during 2012. This study evaluated the pre-feasibility of producing Chilean mussel seed in hatchery. Results showed that although there is technical, legal, environmental, political and managerial viability, the current financial conditions are not adequate to produce mussel seed under modeled hatchery conditions, the NPV: Net Present Value is >0. Seed production in hatchery was not profitable due to both the low price of Chilean mussels in national and international markets and the high cost of production, mainly associated to the production of microalgae (91% of total cost of production). Therefore, despite the significant economic and social impact of the mussel production in Chile and its 20% annual growth, the activity is threatened by the high variability in natural settlement and the economic infeasibility posed by the current seed production technology under controlled conditions.