The board of directors at salmon industry association SalmonChile has elected longtime politician Patricio Melero as its new president, replacing Arturo Clement, who has led the association since 2018 and will step down at the end of February.
The 69-year-old Melero, who will assume the office on 1 March, has served as a congressman representing two different districts of the Metropolitan region of Chile from 1990 to 2021. He also was president of the Chamber of Deputies from 2011 to 2012 and Minister of Labor and Social Welfare during the second government of President Sebastián Piñera from 2021 to 2022. Additionally, he was the president of the right-wing political party Unión Demócrata Independiente (UDI) from 2012 to 2014.
While in congress, he was a member of and chaired the Fisheries and Aquaculture Committee of the Lower House for five terms, during which time he helped to get the first Chilean Fisheries and Aquaculture Law approved in 1991.
In making the new appointment, SalmonChile said it highly values Melero’s extensive experience working in the field with constituents and engaging with communities.
“Salmon farming is today the country's second biggest export product and has enormous potential to continue growing and expanding its markets, generating more quality jobs and investments. I take on the challenge of presiding over SalmonChile with the purpose of promoting this growth within a framework of environmental sustainability, technological innovation, and public-private collaboration that generates greater certainty to facilitate its development," Melero said.
SalmonChile also praised Clement’s leadership, saying he had contributed to strengthening and positioning salmon farming at the national level, as well as the development of sustainable production standards and good practices in the sector. Once he steps down, Clement will support the new president’s induction for three months.
Further, the SalmonChile board named current Corporate Affairs Manager Tomás Monge as general manager of the association. He will take over on 1 February.
Chile's salmon industry registered exports of USD 6.55 billion (EUR 5.63 billion) in 2025 – a 3 percent increase from 2024. Industry stakeholders have been calling for the nation’s government to more clearly define its stance on the future of the aquaculture sector, seeking a countrywide vision to better compete with Norway – the world’s largest producer of farmed salmon.
