Chile’s Magallanes region harvested 15,650 tonnes of salmonids in January 2026, a 19.9% increase on the same month last year, according to data from INE Magallanes.
Atlantic salmon drove the growth. Total resource extraction in the region, including landings and salmonid harvests, reached 16,224 tonnes — up 17.1% year-on-year.
Fifty farming sites operated in the region during January, two fewer than in January 2025. Of those, 47 operated in seawater and three in freshwater.
The Chilean government has signalled an intention to position the country as a global driver of salmon farming expansion, though it recently withdrew 43 environmental decrees — a move that drew concern from producers near the Kawésqar National Park.
The outcome of the ongoing regulatory hearings will determine how much additional capacity Magallanes can absorb, and on what conditions. Producers and officials are expected to continue discussions in the coming weeks.
