Chile's salmon sector boosts tourism and aims to double production

SalmonChile announced its participation in the third Semana del Salmón 2026, scheduled for July 27 – August 1 in Puerto Montt. The event will feature more than 50 restaurants, free tastings of over 2,000 kg of salmon, live cooking shows, chef presentations and cultural performances. It is organized through a public‑private partnership that also involves the municipality of Puerto Montt, the Dalcas project and the University of Santo Tomás, aiming to link the region’s flagship export with gastronomy, heritage and tourism.

In a separate interview, former Puerto Montt mayor and current Gastropuq president Jaime Jelincic advocated for a regional agreement to double salmon production in Chile’s Magallanes region within a decade. He highlighted the area's colder waters, which lower parasite levels and mortality, and cited recent technological and environmental improvements that have reduced ecological impacts. Jelincic argues that expanding production would generate significant employment and stabilize the regional economy.