Punta Arenas, March 29, 2023 – The presidential delegate, Luz Bermudez, and the general manager of Fisa, Rodrigo Lobo, together with local authorities and industry associations, kicked off AquaSur Tech 2023 in the Magallanes Region, the first aquaculture event aimed at innovation, technology and development, oriented towards sustainability.

The meeting, held at the Dreams Hotel in Punta Arenas, brings together in Chilean Patagonia transformational suppliers of the aquaculture industry, to address the challenges proposed by the development of the industry with environmental requirements, social commitment and local communities.

AquaSur Tech hopes to contribute to the strengthening of the aquaculture culture in the region, seeking to connect global trends with local initiatives and studies that address issues such as the great challenges of the aquaculture sector, its future development and new technologies for a more sustainable industry.

In this sense, the Presidential Delegate, Luz Bermúdez Sandoval, emphasized that “this meeting in the Magallanes Region fills us with pride because it also allows us to make the region visible at a national level. We know that there are important challenges in aquaculture, and AquaSur Tech is an opportunity for dialogue and conversation among all of us, about how we project and think about this industry, because progress requires public and private collaboration, using technology and innovation to achieve sustainability”.

“Today we meet an important milestone by opening this meeting space that contributes to the sustainability of the industry. Aware that it is an effort of all, the public-private sector, local authorities, producers and suppliers, AquaSur Tech comes to transform aquaculture from Patagonia. We hope that this initiative will continue over time and become a meeting point for the entire value chain in order to contribute to the local and national economy,” said Fisa’s general manager, Rodrigo Lobo, during his welcoming speech.

After the traditional ribbon cutting, the authorities and special guests toured the exhibition of innovation and technological solutions dedicated to salmon farming, in which 35 companies supplying the sector are participating.

The president of the Magallanes Salmon Farmers Association, Carlos Odebret Beyer, added that “this is an industry that has many solid components such as innovation, entrepreneurship, but always with the sense of sustainability of the sector. Holding this meeting in Magallanes is a bet and a sign that this area is relevant for the industry and for its future sustainable development. It is important to discuss and move forward with a joint vision that not only aims to solve current problems, but also to focus on the long-term vision that this sector needs”.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by the presidential delegate of the Magallanes Region, Luz Bermúdez; the Seremi of Economy of the Magallanes Region, Ruth Saieh; the Commander in Chief of the Third Naval Zone, Rear Admiral Fernando Borcoski; the Maritime Governor, Captain Jaime Jara; the President of Salmones Magallanes, Carlos Odebret; the Regional Director of the Salmon Council, Rodrigo Carrasco; the Regional Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Ximena Gallardo; the general manager of ASMAR Magallanes, Gonzalo Mitrovich, and the general manager of Fisa, Rodrigo Lobo, as well as senior executives of companies in the aquaculture sector, and representatives of exhibiting companies.

During the day of Wednesday 29, a series of workshops called “Transformational Suppliers for Sustainable Aquaculture” are being held. There are three technical committees to disseminate advances in health technologies, biosafety and genetics; artificial intelligence, internet of things, infrastructure, production technologies, ingredients and food; and technologies for processing plants, logistics and circularity.

On Thursday, March 30, the International Congress on Transformational Aquaculture will be held, with the participation of more than 30 speakers from companies, public institutions and academia. These panels will focus on topics such as the contribution of science to the industry, sustainable production and innovations in food.

AquaSur Tech is an instance of rapprochement of the industry with the regional community, to disseminate the most relevant issues of the industry, its contribution to the economy and the cutting-edge technologies that support it.

From this perspective, AquaSur Tech will analyze the progress and future of the salmon farming industry in Magallanes, and the opportunities for the development of the southernmost area of the country.