What Are the Advantages And Risks of Farming Salmon in Chile?
Chilean Salmon Farming: The Blue Economy of the Pacific Coast
In the icy Chilean fjords of the South Pacific, vast circular cages dot the landscape, housing millions of salmon. These salmon are not only a delicacy on the plate, but also known as Chile's "silver," becoming the country's second-largest export pillar supporting the national economy. However, behind this gift from the ocean lies a fierce struggle between sustainable development and ecological protection.
Economic Engine: The Distinctive Advantages of Chilean Salmon Farming
Chile enjoys unique advantages in developing salmon farming. Its winding southern coastline boasts numerous sheltered fjords, whose cold, pristine waters provide an ideal breeding environment for Atlantic salmon. These natural waters have become vast "sea pastures," enabling Chile to achieve large-scale production at relatively low costs.
This industry has become a veritable economic engine for Chile. As the world's second-largest salmon exporter, Chile's salmon industry generates over $5 billion in annual output and accounts for over 25% of the global salmon supply. It not only provides a stable, high-quality source of protein for the global market but also becomes an economic lifeline for southern Chile, creating over 70,000 direct and indirect jobs and closely linking this once-remote region to the global seafood trade.
An Ecological Gamble: Environmental Risks Beneath the Boom
However, behind the prosperity of this "sea ranch" lies significant ecological and environmental risks.
Farm escapes and genetic contamination are among the most serious challenges. Winter storms are frequent in the waters off southern Chile, with high winds and rough waves that often damage fish cages. A single winter storm in 2021 caused over 800,000 salmon to escape into the wild. These farmed fish are non-native species, and once released, they compete with wild populations for food, spread disease, and even interbreed, disrupting the local gene pool, causing irreversible damage to marine biodiversity.
Disease transmission is another major risk. High-density aquaculture creates a breeding ground for disease, leading to frequent outbreaks of infectious salmon anemia (ISA) and sea lice. To control disease, aquaculture companies are forced to use antibiotics and other chemicals. At one point, the Chilean salmon industry's antibiotic usage was over 500 times that of Norway. These drug residues eventually enter the marine environment, causing unknown impacts on the ecosystem.
Seabed eutrophication is also a concern. High-density aquaculture results in large amounts of feces and bait residue being deposited on the seafloor, causing hypoxia and ecosystem changes. Research by the Chilean Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture shows that significant ecological degradation has already occurred in the seafloor beneath some aquaculture areas.
Technological Innovation and Sustainable Solutions
Faced with these challenges, the Chilean government and industry are seeking solutions. New technologies and applications are being promoted:
Upgrading cages and anchoring systems is key to coping with wind and waves. The new generation of aquaculture cages uses stronger materials and designs, equipped with more reliable anchoring systems, and is better able to withstand extreme weather conditions. Some companies are beginning to experiment with submersible cages, which can descend to greater depths, shielding themselves from surface waves.
Aquaculture rotation and ecological restoration programs are being implemented. By allowing aquaculture areas to rest periodically, the seafloor ecosystem can recover naturally, mitigating the long-term environmental impact of aquaculture activities. Vaccine development and precision feeding have reduced antibiotic use. New-generation vaccines significantly reduce reliance on antibiotics, while sensor- and AI-based feeding systems minimize leftover bait and improve feed efficiency.
The Road Ahead: Balancing Development and Conservation
Chile's salmon industry stands at a crossroads. On the one hand, it is a vital pillar of the national economy and key to development in remote areas; on the other, it faces increasingly severe environmental challenges and sustainability demands from the international market.
"We are learning from past mistakes," said Arturo Clemente, President of the Chilean Salmon Industry Association. "New generation farming technologies and management methods are changing the face of this industry. We believe that through innovation and collaboration, we can find a balance between economic development and ecological protection."
As global demand for seafood continues to grow, the future of Chilean salmon farming will depend on whether it can achieve truly sustainable development. This "blue economy" game on the Pacific coast not only affects the future of Chile's "silver" industry but will also serve as a bellwether for the development of the global aquaculture industry.
SMEOCEAN is dedicated to developing Chilean anchor chain designs that are lightweight and suitable for use in high waves. Through hot-dip galvanizing, we've adopted U3 instead of U2, and used studded instead of studless anchor chains. We've also developed supporting mooring discs, fishing shackles, and offshore anchors. To support the expansion of Chilean salmon farming into deep seas, we've visited Chile's top 10 fisheries to jointly research cage anchoring systems. If you're interested in this topic, please contact us.