Lost water, lost culture: the dark side of Chilean salmon

The document details the expansion of salmon aquaculture in Chile, highlighting the ecological damage caused by open-net cages and the violation of Indigenous rights, particularly for the Kawésqar people. It argues that the industry faces increasing financial, legal, and regulatory risks due to its environmental footprint and failure to conduct proper due diligence.

• Chile has become the second largest global producer of farmed salmon, with the industry valued at $6.5 billion in 2023. The sector is heavily concentrated in Patagonia, where 99% of the industry is located, including 1,343 active farms as of November 2024.
• Salmon aquaculture causes significant marine ecosystem degradation through organic pollutants, excessive antibiotic use, and mass escapes of carnivorous salmon that threaten native species. It specifically damages kelp forests in the Kawésqar National Reserve, which are essential for climate resilience.
• The industry severely impacts Indigenous communities, especially the Kawésqar, by restricting access to ancestral sites, disrupting traditional maritime lifestyles, and failing to provide adequate consultation. In the Kawésqar National Reserve, 67 salmon farms currently operate despite opposition from Kawésqar representatives.
• The sector faces a projected 7% decrease in salmon supply from Chile due to climate change vulnerability and biological issues like algae blooms and sea lice. Companies and financial institutions face rising legal and financial risks if they fail to implement due diligence aligned with international standards like the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

APA

ClientEarth (2024). Lost water, lost culture: the dark side of Chilean salmon. https://www.clientearth.org/media/sighjujh/2316-ce-chilean-salmon-factsheet_3a.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. Lost water, lost culture: the dark side of Chilean salmon. 2024. https://www.clientearth.org/media/sighjujh/2316-ce-chilean-salmon-factsheet_3a.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=ClientEarth |title=Lost water, lost culture: the dark side of Chilean salmon |date=December 2024 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/sighjujh/2316-ce-chilean-salmon-factsheet_3a.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{clientearth2024lost, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{Lost water, lost culture: the dark side of Chilean salmon}}, institution = {ClientEarth}, year = {2024}, month = dec, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/sighjujh/2316-ce-chilean-salmon-factsheet_3a.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }