Chile’s salmon aquaculture, developed over the past four decades, has become one of the country’s most dynamic export sectors and the second largest globally after Norway. The industry’s success was built essentially on Chile’s natural comparative advantages , and a supportive regulatory framework—combined with early state involvement, international cooperation, and the catalytic role of Fundación Chile. The sector developed its own technological and organizational capacities, creating a strong innovation ecosystem that links industry, academy and public institutions . Salmon aquaculture has delivered significant economic and social benefits, generating more than 70,000 jobs, fostering regional development in Chilean Patagonian regions, and c ontributing over USD 6 billion annually in exports. Financing structures evolved from pioneer capital and government-backed incentives to diversified mechanisms including insurance, bank loans, stock markets, strategic partnerships, and more recently green loans, reflecting the industry’s increasing alignment with sustainability standards.
The trajectory has not been without challenges. The ISA crisis in 2007–09, climate-related harmful algal blooms, and conflicts with Indigenous and coastal communities underscored the importance of governance, biosecurity, and social license to operate. Lessons learned include the risks of overproduction and farm concentration, the necessity of adaptive regulation, and the value of coordinated sanitary and environmental strategies. Chile’s experience offers critical lessons for emerging aquaculture nations: leverage natural and institutional advantages; ensure early alignment of state, industry, and science; diversify financing instruments; and embed sustainability and community engagement at the core. These elements have enabled Chile to build a world-class industry with global reach and ongoing potential for sustainable growth.