Dr Alicia Gallardo Lagno has more than 25 years of experience in various public service positions.
Consejo del Salmón Chile
The Chilean doctor Alicia Gallardo Lagno has been elected president of the Aquatic Animals Commission of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). It is the first time that someone with experience in the Chilean salmon industry will hold this position.
The new president has more than 25 years of experience in various public service positions and she previously served as Undersecretary of Fisheries and Director of Sernapesca. Moreover, Gallardo worked as a technical advisor for the Chilean Salmon Council.
Regarding this announcement, Gallardo expressed: "I appreciate the support and I proudly take on the responsibility entrusted to me. I am committed to continuing to strengthen animal health in aquaculture in the face of the multiple challenges we are facing, such as climate change and the need to produce more aquatic protein more sustainably."
On the other hand, the executive director of the Salmon Council, Loreto Seguel, indicated: "Chile has to take on this tremendous opportunity to lead the sanitary standards that will govern the future of this activity. This is a very significant step to continue sustainably projecting salmon farming, which is the second-largest export industry in our country."
The main tasks that the Chilean doctor will face are setting animal health and welfare standards, as well as providing binding recommendations for the development and improvement of the global aquaculture product trade.
WOAH has also elected Doctor Emmanuelle Soubeyran as its new Director General for a 5-year mandate (2024-2029). She has become the 8th Director General.
During the previous two mandates, Dr. Monique Eloit has strengthened support for veterinary paraprofessionals and community animal health workers. Furthermore, she implemented data-driven programs such as the Observatory, a monitoring mechanism for the implementation of WOAH Standards, and the global database on animal antimicrobial use, ANIMUSE.