Aquaculture industry associations recognized the contributions of Chile's Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Osvaldo Urrutia, during the Aquasur 2026 formal dinner.
Photo: Aquasur.
Upon taking office, Osvaldo Urrutia stated that his administration would focus on strengthening evidence-based management, strict compliance with current regulations, and dialogue with all stakeholders in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. Just a few days later, the first actions taken by Chile's new Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the start of his term have been aimed at fostering that dialogue.
The new head of Chile's Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca) began his series of meetings and formal hearings by meeting with representatives of the fishing industry. Specifically, Urrutia met with the National Corporation of Women in Artisanal Fishing and Related Activities of Chile and the National Confederation of Artisanal Fishermen of Chile (Conapach).
Thus, during the meeting with the National Corporation of Women in Artisanal Fishing and Related Activities of Chile, topics related to gender equality, adding value to seafood products, and strengthening related activities were discussed, highlighting women's contribution to the production chain and their role in the sector’s development.
Just two months ago, the country witnessed a historic moment when Subpesca conducted a labor competency certification process that formally recognized 74 female employees of the Corporation—women of the sea who, for the first time, received certification in trades related to artisanal fishing in Chile and Latin America.
Meanwhile, during the meeting between Undersecretary Urrutia and Conapach, issues related to the continuity of work in the artisanal sector were discussed, with an emphasis on the importance of moving forward on the basis of legal certainty and strengthening participatory mechanisms.
In its statement, Subpesca emphasized that, conducted in accordance with the Lobbying Act, both meetings were held in compliance with the principles of transparency, integrity, and equitable access to government authorities, and provided an opportunity to address various priority issues for artisanal fisheries and aquaculture.
"As the Undersecretariat, we aim to ensure that dialogue with the various stakeholders in the sector takes place within a transparent and respectful framework, where there is equitable participation and representation," stated the Chilean Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
"Our focus as a government today is to provide clarity to all stakeholders in the fishing and aquaculture sectors, taking into account different perspectives and moving forward with decisions that safeguard the public interest and the sustainable development of these activities," Osvaldo Urrutia continued.
The new head of Subpesca reiterated his willingness to maintain an ongoing dialogue with various organizations in the fishing and aquaculture sectors with a view to promoting the growth of both industries within a framework of clear rules, sustainability, and competitiveness.
In fact, on the eve of these meetings with artisanal fishers, Urrutia had organized another meeting with the various Chilean institutions responsible for regulating, controlling, and supervising the fishing and aquaculture sectors, intending to strengthen cooperation among them to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing) in Chilean waters.
"We are seeking to coordinate the efforts of the State of Chile in the best possible way to combat illegal fishing, remove illegal actors from the equation, and thereby increase the value of legal fishing, benefiting those who operate in accordance with the regulations," Urrutia then stated.
As for the aquaculture sector, Ovaldo Urrutia began his schedule by attending and participating in Aquasur 2026, the most important aquaculture trade show in the Southern Hemisphere, which took place this week in Puerto Montt, in the Los Lagos Region—historically the heart of Chile's salmon industry.
There, during the formal dinner for this 13th edition—held in Puerto Varas—representatives from the sector's leading trade associations, including the Salmon Council, SalmonChile, AmiChile, and Salmoneros de Magallanes, paid special tribute to the new Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture, highlighting his commitment and leadership in promoting the sustainable development of the Chilean aquaculture industry.
"I want to thank you for this tremendous trade show," Urrutia said as he accepted the award, expressing his gratitude on behalf of President José Antonio Kast and Minister of Economy Daniel Mas, whose portfolio includes Subpesca. "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.
According to AquaSur's release, during the event, industry leaders thanked the Undersecretary for his ongoing support in strengthening the industry, promoting technological innovation, and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors.
As part of the initiatives launched by SalmonChile to strengthen dialogue between the public and private sectors, Osvaldo Urrutia accompanied the trade association's new President, Patricio Melero, on a technical visit to key companies in the sector the following day. Together with their teams, they toured the facilities of Compas Marine and GripShip, where they learned about the latest innovations in maritime services and wellboat technology for the sector.
