The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) hosted a comprehensive day of analysis and discussion this Friday as part of World Aquaculture Day. The event, organized by the Aquaculture Working Group of the National Oceanographic Committee (CONA) with support from Sernapesca, brought together representatives from the public sector and specialists in aquaculture in Chile.
The day included welcoming remarks from the president of the CONA Aquaculture Working Group, Marcelo Campos Larraín, and the CONA executive secretary, Juan Cuneo Arenaldi, who emphasized the strategic role of aquaculture in food security and the country’s economic development.
For her part, the National Director of Sernapesca, Soledad Tapia Almonacid, highlighted the Service’s commitment to modern oversight, strengthened traceability, and the promotion of regulatory compliance as pillars for safeguarding environmental sustainability.
“Aquaculture is, without a doubt, one of the most concrete and strategic responses to global challenges in food security, sustainable development, and climate change. The FAO’s SOFIA report projects an increase in this activity, and Chile, as one of the world’s leading producers, has the challenge and the responsibility to move towards modern, transparent, and environmentally responsible aquaculture, for which we must work collaboratively,” emphasized the National Director of Sernapesca.
The meeting also included the participation of the Regional Director of CORFO, Etienne Choupay Magna, who emphasized the role of innovation and investment in technologies to continue driving a more competitive sector. and from Constanza Silva Hernández, head of the Aquaculture Division of the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture, who praised the regulatory progress and current challenges in contributing to the sustainable development of the industry.
The first of the main presentations was “A Historical Overview of Salmon Farming in Chile,” given by Alfredo Valenzuela Leal, one of the pioneers of industrial salmon farming in the country. He reviewed the milestones, lessons learned, and transformations of an activity that today positions Chile as one of the world’s leading producers.
Next, Francisco Cárcamo Vargas, head of the Repopulation and Cultivation Department of the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP) in Puerto Montt, presented “A Systemic Perspective for the Sustainable Development of Small-Scale Aquaculture in Chile,” addressing the challenges and opportunities for strengthening the fish farmers and fishers involved in this production method.
The President of the CONA Aquaculture Working Group thanked the speakers and attendees who enriched the event: “It was a very productive session. The perspective we gained on what is being done and what is to come is very important (…) we must continue to promote and develop; we have much to do.” Campos emphasized the importance of diversifying crops in the country, as well as training highly qualified professionals to ensure the continuity of aquaculture and addressing the social concerns of those working in isolated aquaculture facilities.
The day concluded with a roundtable discussion open to questions from the audience, which allowed for direct exchange with authorities and specialists and highlighted the importance of moving towards innovative, transparent, and sustainable aquaculture, emphasizing applied science.
With activities like this, Sernapesca and the National Oceanographic Committee reaffirmed their commitment to promoting responsible aquaculture development, bringing together knowledge and perspectives from different sectors to face the country’s future challenges in this area.
News and photos: Sernapesca
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