Chile's presidential candidates give views on future of salmon sector

The three leading candidates in the race to become Chile’s next president have outlined their plans for the future of the country’s salmon farming industry, reports Fish Farming Expert's Chilean sister site, Salmonexpert.cl.

Centre-left candidate Jeanette Jara, and right-of-centre candidates José Antonio Kast and Evelyn Matthei were speaking at a summit organised in the salmon-producing Los Lagos region by producers’ organisation SalmonChile.

In his speech, SalmonChile president Arturo Clément offered a critical assessment of the way salmon farming has been handled by the state. “We have lost valuable time to grow again due to the country's lack of vision for salmon farming.”

Clément lamented that, instead of moving toward sustainable expansion in the sector, much of the sector’s efforts have been focused on resisting an adverse political and regulatory environment. “Chile is squandering its competitive advantage while other countries, like Norway, are firmly committed to doubling their production.”

He highlighted the social, economic, and territorial impact of salmon farming, stating that it represents 2.1% of Chile’s gross domestic product and more than 86,000 jobs, primarily in the southern regions. “We can grow here and now, but there must be political will,” said the SalmonChile leader.

Clément also criticised the central authorities' disconnection from the southern territories and the lack of participation in sectoral dialogue. “Over a month and a half ago, we invited several ministers. However, once again, no one showed up. It's difficult to engage in dialogue and make progress if there's no willingness to listen.”

Excessive centralisation

In her first public appearance as the centre-left presidential candidate, Jara, a communist, acknowledged the strategic value of salmon for the national economy.

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She said one of the main bottlenecks to growth is the excessive centralisation of key decisions such as the relocation of aquaculture concessions.

“In Chile, we have relocation permits that take many years - up to eight, according to what I've been told. And that's a whole business life; it's two governments.”

Jara suggested transferring powers to regional governments and creating regional aquaculture committees to address these decisions from a local perspective. “We don't need to be looking from Santiago at the realities occurring in the regions. This isn't just for this region, but also for Aysén and Magallanes.”

She concluded by stating that development must be centered on improving people's living conditions.

Deep deregulation

José Antonio Kast focused his speech on deep deregulation as a way to unlock the potential of salmon farming. “Entrepreneurship is stifled. And there are a large number of unemployed. The State, which was supposed to be a facilitator, has become an obstacle trapped in its own bureaucracy. Permitting, taxes, and unproductive public spending are burdens that must be urgently eliminated to allow development.”

He particularly attacked the Lafkenche Law, calling it a tool of blackmail. The law is intended to ensure that indigenous coastal communities have access to the sea for traditional uses such as fishing, but is being used by some small populations to claim control over huge marine areas.

“What began with a legitimate purpose has been distorted into a tool of political blackmail. More than a thousand applications remain paralysed,” said Kast.

Salmon Plan 2050

Evelyn Matthei focused her presentation on a specific proposal: the Salmon Plan 2050, a roadmap inspired by the Norwegian model that seeks to promote orderly, sustainable, and regional growth in the industry. 

Matthei strongly supported the plan developed by regional authorities, workers, and unions in the southern region, and asserted that its implementation must include state support and the participation of the regions. “This is a purely regional industry, probably the most regional of all. It doesn't depend on the state; it has never received subsidies, and what it is asking for is for the state not to be an obstacle but an ally. Without a doubt, half of the additional resources generated by growth should remain in the regions.”

The Chile Vamos candidate was particularly harsh when referring to the Lafkenche Law. “Salmon farms occupy 4,120 hectares, but the law is demanding 3,900,000 hectares of ECMPO (Espacios Costeros Marítimos de Pueblos Originarios, or Coastal Marine Spaces for Native Peoples). In other words, there is a flagrant abuse that cannot continue to be tolerated. Furthermore, the amendment to this law must go beyond salmon farming and include artisanal fishermen and other stakeholders. Because this paralysis is not sustainable.”

Matthei also pointed to permitting as a factor that has discouraged investment and blocked multi-million-dollar projects. “The current government tried to destroy the salmon industry with a project that eliminated the possibility of farming in protected areas. And when 15,000 workers took to the streets, we didn't see the Minister of Labour.”