JICA Ogata Research Institute

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Seminars Held in Chile to Celebrate Publication of "Chile's Salmon Industry"

May 18, 2017

a salmon processing factory in Chile
A salmon processing factory in Chile

JICA Research Institute held launch seminars in April 2017 entitled, "Sustainability of the Salmon Industry in Chile" in Santiago, the capital of Chile, and Puerto Montt, a city in Southern Chile with a thriving salmon farming industry. The purpose of the seminar was to commemorate the publication of "Chile’s Salmon Industry: Policy Challenges in Managing Public Goods" published by Springer Japan in May 2016.

Chile has grown into one of the largest exporters of salmon in the world, and this book looks at the 50-year history of Chile's salmon industry as well as the trajectory of Japan's cooperation to the aquaculture of salmon in Chile. It also explores the lessons learned and offers proposals for further developments of Chile’s salmon industry. The seminar included reports on issues currently faced by Chile's salmon industry, attracting many people from the public and private sectors and academia.

The seminar in Santiago
The seminar in Santiago

The seminar in Santiago was held on April 25 at the University of Chile, as part of the program celebrating 120 years of diplomatic ties between Japan and Chile. Approximately 50 stakeholders attended from the public and private sectors and academia in Chile's salmon aquaculture industry, including Yoshinobu Hiraishi, Ambassador of Japan to Chile.

The contents of the book were introduced by editors Akio Hosono (Senior Research Advisor of JICA Research Institute), Michiko Iizuka (Researcher of the United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology: UNU-MERIT) and Jorge Katz (Professor of Economics at the University of Chile). Hosono said, "Japan's technical cooperation projects contributed to the cultivation of technology, knowledge and human resources necessary for the development of the salmon industry."

Takeshi Hara (Chief Director of Japan Fisheries Science & Technology Association) talked about the former situation in Chile when he was engaged in a technical cooperation project around 30 years ago as a fish disease expert, and Motohiko Sano (Professor of Marine Biology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology) talked about the status of aquaculture in Japan and introduced empirical case studies on red tide hazard.

It is noteworthy that this seminar brought together the full spectrum of the community, including the private sector (Fundación Chile, SalmonChile, aquaculture business companies), government sector (National Fisheries Service, Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism, Chilean Economic Development Agency) and academic sector (University of Chile). It was a valuable opportunity that confirmed the need for further cooperation between all stakeholders, in order to take measures against the red tide hazard and for the further development of the industry.

Hosono introduced the contents of the book at the seminar in Puerto Montt(left)
Hosono introduced the contents of the book at the seminar in Puerto Montt(left)

The seminar in Puerto Montt, a city known for its thriving aquaculture industry, was held on April 28. The seminar attracted around 50 aquaculture industry members and more. Also present were Pablo Aguilera and Mario Puchi, counterparts in the technical cooperation project about 30 years ago, now founders of Aqua Chile which is one of the leading companies in Chile's salmon industry. The two met with Hara for the first time in 28 years, a reunion that symbolized the long bond between Japan and Chile.

Regarding the seminars, Hosono said, "The seminars brought together industrial, government and academic members of the salmon industry of Chile and Japan, to meet and exchange opinions regarding the new book, challenges in Chile's aquaculture industry, and future prospects of the industry. It was very worthwhile. I believe it was also quite timely, as we were able to introduce Japan's experience on dealing with red tide and other environmental issues Chile currently faces."

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