In an unprecedented ceremony, the former minister and former parliamentarian Patricio Melero received the leadership of SalmonChile from the hands of Arturo Clément, who led the association for eight years.
In an unprecedented ceremony in the 40-year history of SalmonChile, the guild's leadership was transferred, where Arturo Clément handed over the presidency to Patricio Melero, former parliamentarian and former minister with extensive experience in the sector, having participated for 20 years in the Aquaculture Commission.
The event, which brought together more than 200 attendees at the Ciudad Puerto Empormontt Linking Center, featured the participation of regional and municipal authorities, union representatives, leaders of artisanal fishing, leaders of other sectors and prominent business people from the productive sector. The activity also had a wide representation from the world of work, with leaders from the Multisindical of Salmon Farming Workers and the National Coordination of Workers in the Salmon Industry
In his farewell words, Arturo Clément, after eight years leading the sector during a period marked by significant challenges and advances for the industry, highlighted the importance of trust among all the actors involved in the salmon farming sector. "We deeply understood that growth without legitimacy is not viable and that trust is not inherited, it is built. We concluded that transparency and dialogue were the only" way of operating. We have stood firm and deployed where it really mattered: in the territories, with our workers, with suppliers, with the authorities and with the public, working side by side to build an industry that represents all of us," he highlighted.
In turn, the new union leader, Patricio Melero, reaffirmed SalmonChile's will to continue working for the country and indicated that from the new government "we expect leadership, clear rules and a long-term vision for the development of the south. We need regulatory clarity, legal certainty and an agenda that not only enables but also promotes investment, innovation and the incorporation of new technologies. Without certainty there is no "investment and without investment, there is no development".
At the ceremony, business leaders also participated such as José Ramón Gutiérrez, president of MultiX; Rodrigo Sarquis, president of Blumar; and Andrés Santa Cruz, director of Blumar and former president of the CPC; the general manager of Marine Farm, Roberto Riethmüller; the manager of the salmon division of Camanchaca, Manuel Arriagada; and the director of SalmonChile and founder of Compas Marine, Jorge Pacheco, among others. Likewise, they were present present representatives of trade associations such as the General Manager of Corma, Antonio Minte; the President of the Multigremial de Los Lagos, Francisca Sanz; and the President of CorpAysén, Hernán Rebolledo.
“We are the country’s second-largest export product, account for more than 2% of national GDP, support over 86 thousand jobs and connect thousands of suppliers from Biobío to Magallanes. That is real decentralisation, innovation put into practice, stronger supply chains and social mobility for thousands of families in southern Chile,” said José Ramón Gutiérrez, president of MultiX.
Among the authorities present during the event, also highlighted were the governor of Los Lagos, Alejandro Santana, and the mayors of Puerto Montt, Rodrigo Wainraihgt; Puerto Varas, Tomás Gárate and Calbuco, Marco Silva, among others.
Alejandro Santana, governor of the Los Lagos Region, pointed to the importance that salmon farming has had in coastal areas. "I know the importance it has had, not only for those who work in it, but also for those who are suppliers, providers of this industry that has developed and grown. And on the other hand, as it is a competitive world, one of the things that worries me most is how we make sure we do not lose" "competitiveness," noted.
Rodrigo Wainraight, mayor of Puerto Montt, highlighted the sector’s economic impact. “When you see the industry providing 40 thousand direct jobs and 40 thousand indirect jobs, contributing 1,600 million dollars to micro, small and medium-sized businesses and exporting between 6,000 and 7,000 million dollars, those are tangible contributions that strengthen Puerto Montt, the region and the country. We need to work on those things, we need to "empower them," he specified.
During the ceremony, the official invitation was also extended for the SalmonSummit 2026, an event that will take place on 6 May at the Teatro del Lago in Frutillar. The event will bring together various leaders to analyze different topics related to the potential of salmon farming and relevant to the development of the southern south area of the country.
The day ended with a cocktail of camaraderie among the more than 200 leaders who participated in the ceremony, where attendees could share views on the challenges and opportunities of salmon farming, reaffirming their commitment to the generation of quality employment, innovation and the sustainable development of the southern regions of Chile.
