AquaGen Chile hosts Norwegian salmon farmers as industry shifts toward larger smolts

Two groups of Norwegian salmon farmers visited Chile in March at the invitation of AquaGen Chile, the first between March 2 and March 12 and the second between March 12 and March 21, to gain insight into the country’s salmon industry, particularly its freshwater stage, and to analyse key trends such as the shift toward larger smolt sizes.

According to AquaGen Chile’s general manager, Patrick Dempster, the visits are part of an ongoing knowledge exchange between Chile and Norway, aimed at strengthening collaboration between both salmon-producing nations.

The delegations focused on freshwater production, especially the development of larger smolts, as well as the expansion of salmon farming into southern regions such as Magallanes.

In Norway, smolt sizes typically range from 250 to 600 grams, with some producers targeting up to 1 kilogram, while in Chile they usually range between 250 and 400 grams. Despite these differences, Dempster noted that the overall trend is the same: increasing smolt size.

Because all participating companies use AquaGen genetics, the visits also provided an opportunity to compare performance across different farming regions under similar genetic conditions.

The technical tours included hatcheries, marine sites and processing plants across the Los Lagos and Magallanes regions, as well as visits to innovation facilities such as Cargill’s Innovation Center in Colaco.

Beyond technical insights, the programme also aimed to showcase Chile’s salmon farming industry and strengthen its international reputation through direct, on-site experience.