Don't miss the opportunity to participate in the largest aquaculture event in the Southern Hemisphere!
Don't miss the opportunity to participate in the largest aquaculture event in the Southern Hemisphere!
The 13th edition of the fair saw a growth of 37%, brought together 550 exhibitors from 34 countries and featured the unprecedented participation of the President of the Republic, consolidating Chile as a world leader in aquaculture.
With record attendance, international representation, and institutional support, Aquasur 2026, organized by Fisa, part of the GL events Chile group, closed its doors with the highest attendance in its history.
The 13th edition of the event brought together 30,959 visitors in the Los Lagos Region, who were able to learn firsthand about the solutions and innovations of 550 exhibitors from 34 countries. All of them were showcased across eight pavilions in a 20,000 m² space, a true milestone for the sector.
“This was, without a doubt, the most important edition in Aquasur’s history. We reached 30,959 visitors, 37% more than the previous edition, which brought together 22,631 attendees. All of this, along with a high level of participation and quality content”, assessed Francisco Sotomayor, CEO of GL events Chile and executive director of Fisa.
“The presence of His Excellency the President of the Republic at the opening ceremony marks a milestone for the fair and reflects the importance that aquaculture holds for the country today. We brought together 550 companies from 34 countries, along with an International Congress that addressed the main challenges and opportunities of the industry. We are very pleased, and our commitment is to continue strengthening this event, positioning Aquasur as the leading platform for the aquaculture industry, connecting Chile with the world, and supporting the future development of the sector”, added Sotomayor.
For the first time in its 13 editions, Aquasur 2026 featured the participation of the President of the Republic, José Antonio Kast, and former President Eduardo Frei at its opening ceremony.
In his address, President Kast said, “I want to thank Aquasur for this event,” and extended his gratitude to everyone who made this new edition of the fair possible. “As the Governor of Los Lagos said, and as Francisco (Sotomayor) also mentioned, 40 years ago no one would have dreamed of the development that the salmon farming industry in Chile has experienced”, he added.
Kast also highlighted the impact the salmon industry has on generating employment for women in the Los Lagos Region, emphasizing how many women have been able to support their families thanks to their work in the area’s processing plants.
Ximena Lincolao, Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, closed the Aquasur 2026 International Congress and took the time to tour the fair, visiting the various booths of startups and companies linked to innovation and technology.
“We’ve had the opportunity to see innovation in everything related to data analysis and underwater health. We’ve seen very interesting things, such as the combination of robotics, hardware, and software, which have transformed work in aquaculture. Aquasur is a world-class trade show”, he stated.
Institutional Support
Aquasur 2026 was attended by various authorities at its opening ceremony. Alejandro Santana, regional governor of Los Lagos and honorary president of Aquasur 2026, celebrated the trade show’s progress. “When you start looking at the statistics, the growth, more than 500 booths, and the countries visiting this event, it’s not due to chance. It’s the result of good work and several elements that allow us to make this happen”, he said.
Also present were the mayors of Puerto Montt, Rodrigo Wainraihgt, and Puerto Varas, Tomás Gárate. Antonio Walker, president of the National Agricultural Society (SNA) and director of FISA, traveled to the capital of the Los Lagos Region, along with ambassadors from countries such as the United States, Norway, France, Denmark, and Japan; leaders from the world of aquaculture; businesspeople from the sector; and workers and families from the country’s large aquaculture industry, Chile’s second most exported product. All of them were joined by members of the press from Chile and abroad.
Aquasur also contributed to knowledge and showcased cutting-edge aquaculture. The International Congress featured six panel discussions and 57 high-level speakers, including presentations by scientists from the FDA, FAO, and the Director General of Aquaculture from the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, as well as other researchers from Chilean and international universities.
The event was also the epicenter of other milestones for Chilean aquaculture. There, for example, the first session of the Salmon Plan 2050 took place, a technical and political roadmap for the sustainability of aquaculture, environmental protection, and social well-being in the Los Lagos, Aysén, and Magallanes regions.
This project is being promoted by the mayor of Puerto Montt, Rodrigo Wainraihgt, and former President Eduardo Frei and the Undersecretary of Fisheries, Osvaldo Urrutia, were invited to this first session.
The fair also included other satellite events.
On Tuesday evening, the Aquasur Formal Dinner was held in the ballrooms of the Radisson Hotel in Puerto Varas, to which authorities, ambassadors, and leaders of the aquaculture industry were invited. On Wednesday, the Aquasur Night was held, a day of leisure and networking that brought together 600 people at the Puerto Montt City Engagement Center.
Thus, with unprecedented figures, international leadership and a focus on sustainability and innovation, Aquasur 2026 positioned itself as a meeting point where Chile reaffirmed its position as a world leader in aquaculture and committed its course towards the sector’s upcoming challenges.
