The national aquaculture industry marks a milestone in gender equity with the emergence of Women in Chilean Aquaculture (WICA).

On January 13, the network held its first in-person meeting in Puerto Varas, gathering leaders and professionals from across the production chain.

Led by Francisca Araya and Karina Gajardo from the company Aquabyte, the initiative is inspired by successful models in Norway and Canada. Its objective is clear: to strengthen female leadership and close gender gaps in an industry that has historically been male-dominated.

During the event, a diagnostic survey was conducted to address critical challenges such as professional stagnation and perceptions of discrimination. In immediate response, an online communication and leadership workshop will be held in March in partnership with the consultancy Empoderadas.

The network's major consolidation milestone will be its official launch at AquaSur 2026, the most important aquaculture exhibition in the Southern Hemisphere. On this stage, WICA will present its strategic action lines to foster technical collaboration and increase the visibility of women in senior management positions, transforming the future of aquaculture in Chile.

On January 6, the research vessel Abate Molina set sail from the Port of Valparaíso. For 28 days, IFOP professionals and technicians will be dedicated to characterizing and evaluating the stock of anchovy and common sardine resources present between the Valparaíso and Los Lagos Regions, using hydroacoustic methods, during the peak recruitment period and in the following autumn.

The ship's captain is José Echeverría (left), and the cruise leader is fisheries engineer René Vargas (right).

Specific Objectives:

• To estimate the stock size of anchovy and common sardine resources and their spatial distribution during the peak recruitment period in the study area.
• To characterize and analyze, within a spatiotemporal context, the demographic composition and its interannual variation of the evaluated stocks using biological indicators.
• Characterize and analyze the bio-oceanographic conditions present in the study area and their relationship to the spatial distribution of resources.
• Characterize the aggregations of anchovy and common sardine resources in the study area.
• Implement the Continuous Improvement Plan for hydroacoustic assessment studies of pelagic resources: anchovy, common sardine, southern sardine, and jack mackerel, as appropriate, according to the priorities identified in the plan's development and the available budget.

Salmon Evolution ASA (“Salmon Evolution is pleased to provide an ” or the “Company”) update on the partnership with Dongwon Industries in Korea.

The parties have agreed to replace the existing joint venture agreement with a technical advisory agreement, upon which Salmon Evolution will provide technical advisory services on market terms. This positions Dongwon Industries to advance the project on its own terms, with full responsibility for project financing.

Key highlights of the updated partnership model:

• Salmon Evolution will provide technical advisory services on market terms, including provisions for potentially significant royalty payments linked to certain operational milestones. 
• Salmon Evolution have no further investment commitments under the new agreement. 
• Salmon Evolution remains a minority shareholder and key contributor in the project, although its current 49% ownership is expected to be diluted over time. 
• Salmon Evolution retains a  five-year at market terms.

This updated structure reflects Salmon Evolution’s strategic priorities in the near to medium term, hereunder continued focus on operational excellence and phase 2 project execution at Indre Harøy, while at the same time leveraging the significant human capital built up in recent years.

Despite delays that forced Russia to heavily postpone the deadline of its investment quota program, the country said new processing facilities and vessels stemming from the program are benefiting the industry.

Russia’s investment quota programs got their start in the country’s crab industry in 2018, which saw the government auction off 50 percent of available quotas via auctions that came with additional investment requirements for companies. Those requirements included the construction of new fishing vessels in Russian shipyards or new seafood-processing facilities, with the goal of modernizing the country’s seafood infrastructure.

Author: Chris Chase / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here

PML leads satellite project with NZ partner.  As South Australia confronts one of its most damaging harmful algal blooms (HABS) on record, a new UK–New Zealand research project led by Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) will boost monitoring of phytoplankton that produce toxins, early-warning systems and coastal resilience across the Southern Hemisphere.

In Australia, an unprecedented harmful algal bloom, described like an “underwater bush fire”, has swept through coastal waters, leaving devastation in its wake. 

Source: Fish Focus | Read the full article here

Chilean salmonid exports were worth US $6.549 billion (£4.87bn) last year, according to industry body SalmonChile’s latest export bulletin (in Spanish).

The sector accounted for approximately 29% of the value of food exports, which equates to 15% of Chile's non-mining shipments and 6% of the value of all Chilean exports (including mining) in 2025, reports Fish Farming Expert's Chilean sister site, Salmonexpert.cl.

The value of Chile’s exports grew by 8% year-on-year, while the value of salmon and trout exports increased by 3%, maintaining the salmonid sector’s position as Chile's second-largest export, behind copper and ahead of important sectors such as wine ($1.536bn), lithium ($2.366bn), and forestry and cellulose ($5.873bn).

Author: Loreto Appel / fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here

• The duty-free quota for "Loligo" squid has increased by 50% compared to 2024, as a result of a better fishing season and the improvement of European regulations promoted by Conxemar.
• Compared to 2023, the year before the regulatory change, the quota has skyrocketed by 600%.

As Cyprus begins its presidency of the Council of the European Union, environmental organisation Oceana is calling on the island nation to set a clear and ambitious course for Europe’s ocean future, centred on recovery, resilience and long-term food security.

The first half of 2026 is expected to be pivotal for EU marine policy. During this period, the European Commission will conclude its evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and decide whether to revise one of the bloc’s most important fisheries laws.

Source: Worldfishing | Read the full article here