Chile's Marine Harvest hit by salmon buying limit

LOS ANGELES, April 19 (Reuters) - Marine Harvest (MHG.OL: Quote, Profile, Research) so far appears to be the only Chilean fish farmer hit by buying restrictions on salmon after an outbreak of fish disease, a Chilean Salmon industry spokesman said late on Friday.

"SalmonChile has not received any information that any other producer has seen its exports to the U.S. or any other market restricted," Cesar Barros, president of SalmonChile, told Reuters.

He was responding to a query about U.S. grocer Safeway Inc's (SWY.N: Quote, Profile, Research) decision to halt salmon purchases from Marine Harvest, the world's largest fish farmer, after an outbreak of infectious salmon anemia. ISA is not harmful to humans.

Representatives from Marine Harvest did not respond immediately to email requests for comment.

Norway-based Marine Harvest on Monday said it closed one of three processing plants in Chile's Puerto Montt due to ISA, a contagious virus that affects Atlantic salmon. Marine Harvest said the outbreak has reduced harvesting volumes.

Norwegian fish farmer Cermaq (CEQ.OL: Quote, Profile, Research), like its bigger rival Marine Harvest, also has struggled with ISA in Chile since the second quarter of 2007.

Safeway spokesman Brian Dowling late on Friday said the company a few weeks ago stopped buying salmon from regions affected by ISA. He said the disease affects the size of the fish, which hurts quality and taste.

"Safeway is restricting product from Chile," said Dowling, who said the company is still buying from areas unaffected by the virus.

Other U.S. grocers on Friday said they are selectively purchasing Chilean farm-raised salmon.