"Magallanes has unique conditions to become an aquaculture powerhouse," said Carlos Odebret, President of the Association of Salmon Farmers of Magallanes.
Photo: Asociación de Salmonicultores de Magallanes A.G.
The Association of Salmon Farmers of Magallanes, Chile, announced the development of an unprecedented project in Chilean salmon farming aimed at optimizing the distribution of Salmonid Concession Groupings (ACS) in the region and reducing sanitary risks, which, according to its President, Carlos Odebret, reflects the future of aquaculture.
The initiative, jointly promoted by three renowned companies in the sector—Blumar, Australis Mar, and Cermaq Chile—and backed by more than three years of scientific research, has been authorized by Chile's Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca).
Among other studies, the project is based on advanced modelling, four oceanographic campaigns, systematic collection of environmental and sanitary data, long-term current behaviour analysis, and pathogen dispersion modelling, which enabled the construction of a solid technical foundation for the subdivision proposal.
Based on their findings, the joint initiative by Blumar, Australis Mar—a subsidiary of Australis Seafoods—, and Cermaq Chile subdivided seven salmon farming concessions in the municipality of Río Verde, a commune located in the Province of Magallanes, Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica Region, in the southern part of the country.
"This project reflects the future of aquaculture: a production system based on science and the creation of territorial knowledge, enabling more efficient production with lower sanitary and environmental risks," Carlos Odebret highlighted.
"Magallanes has unique conditions to become an aquaculture powerhouse, and moving forward with robust information allows us to improve sanitary sustainability, operational efficiency, and regional development," the President of the Association of Salmon Farmers of Magallanes added.
According to the Association's statement, the projected benefits of this subdivision include improved sanitary management at farming sites, strengthened biosecurity, risk reduction, and the promotion of more stable and predictable production cycles, since, as mentioned, the study included modelling of currents and the behaviour of pathogens in them.
Likewise, the Association of Salmon Farmers of Magallanes highlighted that the initiative also contributes to optimizing production management, allowing for improvements in both maritime and land-based logistics, strengthening coordination in the use of vessels, transportation, and associated processes, which translates into greater operational efficiency and less pressure on support systems.
Led by veterinarian Eugenio Zamorano, a specialist in aquaculture regulation, the scientific team leading the research included Matías Gargiulo, PhD, marine biologist from IA Consultores; Fernando Mardones, PhD, veterinarian and academic at the University of Edinburgh, who participated in this project through the consulting firm Epivet; and Hernán Rojas, PhD, epidemiologist specializing in sanitary management and director of the consulting firm CERES BCA. The latter two commented on what they considered to be the highlights of the project.
"The value of this work lies in the integration of multiple scientific disciplines to better understand the environmental and sanitary behaviour of farm sites under sub-Antarctic conditions," explained Dr. Hernán Rojas. "This type of study allows for better-informed production decisions and reduces uncertainties, while maintaining the region's good sanitary conditions," he added.
"On this occasion, we integrated new oceanographic data that had not previously been available, which allowed us to strengthen and refine our models. This work meets standards comparable to those developed in countries such as Norway, Canada, and Scotland, where this type of study is common practice, and it represents a solid foundation for the future of the industry," said Dr. Fernando Mardones, emphasizing the idea expressed by Odebret.
"In addition to the operational benefits, this project strengthens scientific knowledge of the regional ecosystem, providing valuable information for the responsible and sustainable development of aquaculture in Magallanes," stated the President of the Association of Salmon Farmers of Magallanes.
"We believe this sets a standard for our sector and positions the region as a knowledge-based aquaculture development hub," Odebret concluded.
The project, which, as mentioned, was approved by Chile's Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture in January of this year, was previously submitted to the competent authority and evaluated in accordance with current regulatory procedures, and reviewed by specialists from Chile's National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) and the Chilean Fisheries Development Institute.