Chile opens review process for aquaculture concession relocation requests

The Undersecretariat for Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca) in Chile has confirmed its willingness to review pending applications for the relocation of salmon aquaculture concessions.

These relocations, which are not halted by Marine Coastal Spaces for Indigenous Peoples (ECMPO) or protected areas subject to management plans, are expected to reactivate and strengthen the sector's productivity.

Applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, with direct coordination established with concession holders. More specifically, Subpesca's Aquaculture Division began meetings in mid-April to review the status of the application processes.

These initial meetings will provide updated information, highlight gaps in the application processes, and gather feedback to help optimize procedures.

"We will be able to identify which concessions are currently stalled and which continue to operate, which is key to assessing whether a potential relocation could facilitate a return to normal operations, along with the recovery of production levels, employment, and sector growth in the next stages," said the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Osvaldo Urrutia.

This process will also help to provide greater legal certainty for concession holders, assess the viability of ongoing applications, identify opportunities to improve regulations, strengthen coordination between institutions, and support better spatial planning for the aquaculture sector.