Chile’s Salmon Council, a trade association formed in 2020, has been outspoken over the need for the nation’s salmon-farming industry to strictly obey environmental laws. It has also proactively led discussions over industry needs, sought areas of cooperation with other national industry associations, and worked to ensure that government authorities and decision-makers prioritize the aquaculture sector.
SeafoodSource spoke with Loreto Seguel, the executive director of the council, to get an overview of where the industry made progress and suffered setbacks in 2024 and where the association would like to go in 2025.
SeafoodSource: Can you summarize what 2024 was like for the Chilean salmon-farming industry?
Seguel: 2024 was a year that allowed us to show Chile in public discussion that [aquaculture] is a relevant industry, and that is a great win. That means that we are starting to rise now and move toward what we need in the form of state policy. Two or three years ago, no one talked about salmon farming because we were like the ugly duckling. Today, it is being discussed; we are putting the topic into the discussion in the south and also in [the nation’s capital of] Santiago. The council has played an important role in participating in forums and business meetings, where we really should feel proud of this industry.
Does it have challenges? Yes, of course it has challenges. We produce living things in the sea, so we have challenges all the time, but today, what has been built is a source of pride that we have to be able to transmit, removing the myths and the misinformation that is very strong here. I’d say that 2024 for the industry meant making a path of debunking myths, really informing decision-makers and elites of what we do, what that industry is, and what the challenges are but also letting people know about the things that must continue to be affirmed.
SeafoodSource: What are your expectations for 2025?
Seguel: We will have national elections. As a council, we have the firm conviction, regardless of the government, that we have to be able to get this industry into the public policy discussion. We are focused on that, and we’re focused on providing accurate information regarding the impact of this industry and what it means for it to continue growing...