Aquasur 2026 closes with a 37% increase in attendance

With a record-breaking attendance—30,959 visitors, 37% more than the previous edition—, international representation and institutional support—it featured the unprecedented participation of a President of the Republic—, Aquasur 2026 closed last Thursday, consolidating Chile as one of the leading countries in aquaculture.

Across eight pavilions in a space of 20,000 m2, the 13th edition of the fair—the most important aquaculture trade show in the Southern Hemisphere—brought together 550 exhibitors from 34 countries in Puerto Montt, Los Lagos Region—historically the heart of Chile's salmon industry.

"This was undoubtedly the most important edition in Aquasur's history," declared Francisco Sotomayor, CEO of GL events Chile and Executive Director of Fisa, the trade show's organizing entity.

"We reached 30,959 visits, 37% more than the previous edition, which brought together 22,631 attendees. All of this, along with a high level of participation and quality content," he added.

Broad institutional support

In their assessment of the edition that has just ended, the organizers of Aquasur 2026 emphasized the institutional support obtained by the exhibition, which had various authorities present at its opening ceremony.

There, alongside aquaculture leaders, businessmen from the sector, workers and families of the country's large aquaculture industry—salmon is Chile's second most exported product—were present the President of the National Agricultural Society (SNA), Antonio Walker; ambassadors from countries such as the United States, Norway, France, Denmark and Japan; the mayors of Puerto Montt, Rodrigo Wainraihgt, and of Puerto Varas, Tomás Gárate; as well as Alejandro Santana, regional governor of Los Lagos.

"When you start looking at the statistics, the growth, more than 500 booths, and the countries visiting this event, it's not a product of chance. It's the product of good work and several elements that allow us to make this happen," Santana, who was also the honorary president of Aquasur 2026, emphasized in his speech.

However, at a time when all eyes in the Chilean seafood industry, both fishing and aquaculture, are on the new government and the policies it may implement to regulate the sector, the most prominent institutional presence at this edition was undoubtedly that of the new President of Chile, José Antonio Kast.

First-ever visit by a President of Chile

With his visit, Aquasur welcomed the President of the Republic for the first time since the fair began 13 editions ago.

In his address, Kast thanked the organizers for the meeting and, while extending his appreciation to all those who made this edition of the trade show possible, emphasized that "40 years ago, no one would have dreamed of the development that the salmon farming industry has experienced in Chile."

Likewise, the Chilean President also highlighted the impact of the salmon industry on female employment in the Los Lagos region, emphasizing how many women have been able to support their families thanks to their work in the processing plants in the area.

"The presence of H.E. the President of the Republic at the inauguration marks a milestone for the fair and demonstrates the relevance that aquaculture has for the country today," said Fisa's Executive Director, Francisco Sotomayor, valuing the importance of this government support.

"We brought together 550 companies from 34 countries, along with an International Congress that addressed the main challenges and opportunities of the industry. We are very pleased and our commitment is to continue strengthening this space, projecting Aquasur as the great platform of the aquaculture industry, connecting Chile with the world and supporting the future development of the sector," he added.

Precisely to that future also referred the Chilean Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, Ximena Lincolao. She also visited the fair, in her case to attend the closing ceremony, but before it, she took the time to tour the exhibition, visiting the different stands of start-ups and companies linked to innovation and technology.

"We've had the opportunity to see innovation in everything related to data analysis and underwater health. We've seen very interesting things, such as the combination of robotics, hardware, and software, which have transformed work in aquaculture. Aquasur is a world-class trade fair," she stated.

The head of Subpesca began his contacts with the sector

President Kast and Minister Lincolao were not the only representatives of the new Chilean Government present at Aquasur 2026. As reported by WeAreAquaculture, the fair was also the venue chosen by the new Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Osvaldo Urrutia, to begin his agenda of contacts with the aquaculture sector.

There, during the formal dinner for this XIII edition held on Tuesday, March 24 in Puerto Varas—one of the satellite events of Aquasur 2026, to which authorities, ambassadors and leaders of the aquaculture industry were invited—, he was recognized for his commitment and leadership in promoting the sustainable development of the Chilean aquaculture industry.

In accepting the award, Urrutia expressed his gratitude on behalf of President Kast and Minister of Economy Daniel Mas, whose portfolio includes Chile's Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca). "I want to thank you for this tremendous trade show," he said. "I am very surprised and impressed by the organizational level of this trade show, which is a world-class event. We hope to participate more frequently in all forms of cooperation within the aquaculture sector," he added.

The following day, Wednesday the 25th, it took place another satellite event, the Aquasur Night, a moment for leisure and networking that brought together 600 people at the Empormontt City-Port Linkage Center in Puerto Montt, the same place where, at the beginning of this month, the inauguration ceremony of another newcomer to his post was held, the new President of the trade association SalmonChile, Patricio Melero.

This year's Aquasur also served as a forum for knowledge sharing and a showcase for cutting-edge aquaculture. The event featured six panel discussions and 57 high-level speakers, including scientists from the FDA, FAO, and the General Director of Aquaculture at the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, as well as researchers from Chilean and international universities.

Furthermore, the fair was also the epicenter of other milestones for Chilean aquaculture. As an example, it hosted the first session of the 'Salmon Plan 2050', a technical and political roadmap for the sustainability of aquaculture, environmental protection, and social well-being in the Los Lagos, Aysén, and Magallanes regions, promoted by the mayor of Puerto Montt, Rodrigo Wainraihgt, and also attended by the head of Subpesca, Osvaldo Urrutia.