Consolidated as one of the main productive activities of food for the world, this November 30 is celebrated as World Aquaculture Day. In Chile, the date has a wide significance due to the development of the salmon and mithilid industry, representatives of an industry that provides work and development to the southern zone with a vision of future and coexistence.

This celebration takes on special relevance in view of the proximity of the XII version of Aquasur, the most important fair of the aquaculture sector and its entire value chain in the southern hemisphere, which this time will be held in a new, specially conditioned venue. This is the TMP Logistics Center in Puerto Montt, which with its 15 thousand square meters will receive more than 300 exhibitors, 25 thousand visitors, an interesting international congress and delegations from 25 countries. With access from Route 5 South, TMP will have nearly 1,400 parking spaces and events inside and outside the Fair.

“We invite the entire aquaculture world to be part of AQUASUR 2024, to continue contributing to local development throughout its value chain, in order to contribute to the national economy through the generation of business opportunities and the creation of direct and indirect jobs that occur around the fair, this would not be possible without an aquaculture industry that has put the name of Chile aquaculture country in the global circuit,” said Rodrigo Lobo, General Manager (a) of Fisa, organizer of the event and part of the GL events group.

Several organizations and companies have highlighted the commemoration and the importance of the date as a platform to highlight the productive and social role of the activity. “Aquaculture is essential to meet the growing demand for food,” said QU Dongyu, director general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) re-elected.

“Aquaculture production will continue to grow, but the benefits of this growth must be equitable and fairly distributed,” the diplomat added, pointing to the need to further develop “the human, social, cultural and economic dimensions of aquaculture.”

The Salmon Council – which represents more than half of Chile’s farmed salmon production – recalled that salmon farming is a productive activity that in its nearly 40 years of life in the country has grown and matured, to become today “a modern, innovative industry with high levels of technology throughout the entire salmon farming process and which is advancing day by day in more sustainable practices”.

The organization also highlighted the projects and investments being made in the sector. “This will translate into more and better jobs and opportunities for the men and women who live in the southern macro-zone”, they pointed out. The Council itself invited people to review the information available in its third sustainability report, recently published on its website, which sets out indicators related to the social, economic and environmental dimensions, and which indicates that it is another step forward in the sustainable development of the industry.

Rodrigo Carrasco, executive director of the Chilean Methyl Farmers Association, AmiChile, highlighted the importance of World Aquaculture Day from the role of the activity in providing food for the human population. “Mitilidae, or mussels, are a source of healthy, sustainable food and are also an engine of local development in all the areas where they are farmed and processed. At the same time, we want to value the work of more than 17 thousand people who are linked to our industry, mainly in the Lakes Region and the Province of Chiloé.

Paula Miranda, manager of AQUASUR 2024, reaffirmed the purpose of the event. “On this day I would like to express as AQUASUR, how proud we are to be part of an activity that brings together an industry so relevant to the development of Chile. It is the second economic activity of the country after mining, and that in its origins with salmon farming -which positioned Chile as an aquaculture pole-, today opens the way to other crops and markets ranging from aquaculture diversification in size and species with growth potential, to local development, “said the executive.

“Aquaculture is a driving force for Chile and AQUASUR will highlight it this March 19-21 from Puerto Montt, the capital of this activity,” added Paula Miranda.

For his part, Francisco Sotomayor, CEO of GL events Chile, highlighted the work of the different actors in the industry. “On this World Aquaculture Day, as organizers of AQUASUR, we want to value and thank all the workers for their invaluable contribution. With them, and day after day, we build together the sustainable development of aquaculture with a clear objective: to ensure that a healthy and high quality marine protein reaches more tables and people, and generates greater regional progress in harmony with the environment, providing opportunities for all”.