Stakeholder perceptions of the impacts from Salmon Aquaculture in the Chilean Patagonia

We review stakeholder perceptions in Chile regarding socioeconomic impacts of salmon aquaculture in the Chilean Patagonia. Salmon aquaculture is one of the fastest growing industries in Chile that developed with very limited regulation, which has resulted in significant effects on the ecosystem and local communities. After the Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA) virus struck the industry in 2007, an important number of new regulations were passed with the participation of the aquaculture companies and their need of a sustainable industry. Nevertheless, some of the impacts remain and a new outbreak of the ISA virus struck in 2013. During this period, we conducted a series of workshops to evaluate stakeholder concerns regarding the impacts that aquaculture activities generate. Stakeholders from the government, NGOs, local communities, fishermen and aquaculture companies participated in a series of workshops, where they shared their different views about the impacts of the salmon industry in Chile. The analysis of this information provides an overview of the main issues still in place, and a guide for regulators and firms about where to focus to reduce the negative perceptions about the salmon industry and how to transform it in a sustainable activity.