One of Chile’s biggest food exporters fights to shore up its image abroad.
The Chilean salmon industry’s main producers’ association has rejected the portrayal of the sector in a recent article by The Guardian on so-called “blood salmon”, arguing that the report does not reflect current conditions in the country’s farming, labour or operational standards.
Speaking on Radio La Clave, Loreto Seguel, executive president of the Chilean Salmon Council (Consejo del Salmón), said the publication combines animal health statistics, historical episodes and unverified accusations in a way that distorts the reality of the industry.
She noted that the council, which represents close to 60 percent of Chilean production, was not contacted to verify the information, and questioned the sources of the data cited in the piece.
Seguel highlighted changes in technology and working practices in recent years, pointing in particular to the increased use of robotics for underwater tasks that were previously carried out by divers, and to the rollout of new training, competency and certification schemes.
She referenced recent initiatives in human rights and due diligence, and formal certification of marine diver roles developed with Chile Valora, as examples of how current standards differ from the conditions described in the article.
According to Seguel, several situations mentioned in the report relate to past practices that predate regulatory changes and operational improvements, and she argued that parts of the narrative appear to be anchored in conditions from two decades ago.
She also said the council is working with ProChile and its international offices to address reputational risks arising from what it views as incomplete or misleading information in an increasingly competitive global market.
Human cost of Chilean salmon under fire in new Guardian investigation
On the domestic front, Seguel reiterated the industry’s concerns over an outdated regulatory framework that, in the view of producers, limits competitiveness by restricting relocation of sites, consolidation of concessions and efficiency gains.
She stressed that salmon farming remains one of Chile’s most important food export sectors and a key economic driver in the south of the country, and called for public debate on the industry to be based on up-to-date, verifiable data rather than perceptions.
