Guilds, companies and executives expressed their sadness at the passing of one of the pioneers of Chilean salmon farming.

Want to inform you about a sad news for our company and the salmon industry. Today the founder of AquaChile passed away. Victor Hugo Puchi, a pioneer of the salmon production in our country".

So I confirmed, this Monday, 4 March, AquaChile Companies the sickness certificate of the person who until before the purchase by the Agrosuper in 2019 for US$850 million – he was the executive leader of the world's largest salmonicultor of Chilean capitals.

Commercial engineer of the Catholic University of Chile and Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Chicago (United States), after graduating he developed his career in the financial area of companies such as Iansa, BHC group and Quiñenco.

En 1989 founded, along with his brothers Mario and Juan Carlos Puchi, and Eduardo Aguilera, AquaChile, dedicated to the production of ova and salmon smolts. Then, in 1999, led the merger with South Pacific salmon, belonging to the brothers Claudio and Humberto Fischer Llop, the one that gave way to AquaChile Companies.

“An entrepreneur from southern Chile, whose constant commitment and contribution to the development of Patagonia – it was one of the main faces that opposed the construction of HidroAysén, financing movements like Patagonia Without Dams–and the country in general, it is an important teaching for all of us. On behalf of AquaChile, we extend our condolences to his family,” said the company controlled today by Agrosuper and that is the second largest salmonid grower in the world, after Mowi (former Marine Harvest).

Along the same lines, and minutes after what AquaChile said, the general manager of the same company, Sady Delgado, used your account LinkedIn to write: “Today Victor Hugo Puchi, founder of AquaChile, died, to which he was a part until 2019. He was one of the pioneers of the Chilean salmon industry and architect of its growth and development. It is difficult to understand the evolution of this industry without the figure of Victor Hugo. A man Simple, cunning, brave, that he had an enormous affection for Chile and its regions. A entrepreneur of the south, deeply committed to the development of Patagonia, which was a example and inspiration for many of those who drive this industry today. On behalf of AquaChile, our condolences to your lady, children, and family.”

Trade unions, executives and companies

On the side of the guilds, the Salmon Council of Chile (CDS), of which AquaChile Companies is part – along with Cermaq, Mowi, Australis and Salmon Aysen– expressed that his vision and leadership were fundamental to the growth of salmon farming in Chile. “We value your commitment to the industry and your effort to make it a national and global benchmark. We extend our sincere condolences to your family, friends and loved ones. His legacy will last in the industry.”the CSD, whose executive director is Loreto Seguel King.

For its part, the Association of the Salmon Industry of Chile A.G. (SalmonChile), a guild that is chaired by Arturo Clément, said they deeply regret the departure of Victor Hugo Puchi, “pioneer in the development of aquaculture in Chile, former president of SalmonChileA man. visionary, regionalist spirit who worked for the development of the southern part of the country and his dear Patagonia. Our deepest condolences to your family.”

Whereas the Aquaculture Innovation Club of Chile began by saying that “a great innovator has left us.” He added: “Víctor Hugo Puchi has left behind and has left an indelible footprint of vision, commitment and innovative capacity in salmon farming. Promoted new business and corporate projects and sustained from the SalmonChile and Intesal (Salmon Technology Institute) sustained support for Research, Development and Innovation (R & D & I) in the industry, in addition to other unpublished initiatives from your company. Our Aquaculture Innovation Club expresses its condolences to your family, friends and collaborators and pray for the eternal rest of his soul.”

The president of the club, Adolfo Alvial, he added that under the presidency of Victor Hugo Puchi in SalmonChile he entered as manager of Intestesal, and since then said he could know his human and entrepreneurial capacities to run an industry that was rising in the midst of many challenges.

“The temperance, restraint, confidence and their attachment to decisions accompanied by rigorous foundation and informed and responsible discussion, brought us closer to the tasks of salmon farming. To a large extent, associative unity emerged and sustained itself with its leadership and vision. Your testimony of remarkable entrepreneur and mentor, will remain present in an industry that must always remember its origins and the values that boosted it and, above all, that it must bear in mind that it is the people who finally define its success, question that was always present in the work of Victor Hugo. My condolences to your family and all your friends and collaborators, with recognition and affection, in my name and that of our Club Innovación Acuícola – Chile”, wrote Adolfo Alvial.  

On the side of industry companies, ScaleAQ said that, in these difficult moments, they add to the condolences addressed to the family and friends of Victor Hugo Puchi, “who left Indelible legacy as one of the pioneers of the salmon industry in our country. Originary of Chilean Patagonia and founder of AquaChile, its tireless work was fundamental to the growth and development of this important industry.”

Victor Hugo Puchi had 71 years, I was married to Cecilia Reyes and had four children and eight grandchildren.

*Source of the featured photo: AquaChile Companies.