Colin Bennett

Reporting from Santiago, Chile

Colin Bennett is an Iowa native now based in Santiago, Chile. Over the last 10 years Colin has covered a variety of topics in Chile and other Latin American countries. Food and the industry behind it has emerged as one of his favorite subject matters, from seafood to fruit, farming to retail. Colin enjoys examining the details which make the difference for these global industries that call Chile and its neighbors home.

Published on
February 14, 2018

Chile has become the first country where all salmon meal producers are certified by the Norway-based ORIVO authenticity testing program. 

ORIVO said in a statement that the addition of Pesquera la Portada has completed the share of certification to all the country’s salmon meal suppliers. Pesquera la Portada’s international sales manager Magdalena Errázuriz said that this is a sign that raw material producers in Chile are

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Published on
February 8, 2018

More than 50 potential suitors have been contacted by a Chilean investment bank to purchase the salmon operation of Chilean salmon farmer Friosur, as its controlling stakeholder looks to focus on extractive fishing. 

According to a report in Chilean national newspaper El Mercurio, Chilean investment bank LarrainVial has been tapped to handle the sale of the salmon unit, which produces around 20,000 tons of salmon annually. 

The sale

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Published on
January 2, 2018

Chile’s Fisheries and Aquaculture undersecretary Subpesca announced it would limit bottom trawling practices in 98 percent of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), a measure authorities and NGOs said reaffirms the government’s support for a more sustainable fishing industry.

According to a Subpesca statement, the announcement was made jointly with Oceana Chile, and freezes the fishing footprint for common hake, crustacean, and demersal

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Published on
December 21, 2017

If the seafood world put out a list of its rising stars, Argentine red shrimp might top that list.

Advances in harvesting techniques, processing, and management have helped grow the sector's landings, allowing expansion and further penetration into markets around the world, but most prominently, China and the United States.

Furthermore, since the species has a relatively short reproduction cycle – fully reproducing in 12 to 16 months

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Published on
December 12, 2017

Chilean fish farmer AquaChile posted an accumulated nine-month net profit of USD 33.7 million (EUR 28.6 million) as of the end of September, 2017 reversing losses in the same period last year, and is reportedly planning an expansion in its production during 2018. 

According to a company presentation, the company reduced sales costs associated with all of its species and also registered good sales prices for salmon and trout during the third

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Published on
December 3, 2017

A decrease in antibiotic usage, fewer accidents, and recertification for their Verlasso brand are some of the highlights from salmon farmer AquaChile’s recently published 2016 sustainability report, the tenth installment of the firm’s publication.  

The report follows recommendations specified by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The report considers the full year of 2016, complimenting other information offered

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Published on
December 1, 2017

Chile’s national fishery service Sernapesca has brought a selection of added-value fish products to one of Chile’s largest culinary fairs as part of its effort to develop the country’s artisanal fishing and increase consumption of seafood products in Chile.

Sernapesca’s participation in the Echinuco 2017 festival is part of its “Te Quiero Caleta” initiative, and this year’s selection includes five

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Published on
November 28, 2017

The current president of Chile’s Salmon Industry Association has announced he will not pursue a third two-year term, and is apparently headed to the board of directors of Camanchaca, ahead of a public listing.

SalmonChile’s Felipe Sandoval, who has held the role of president for four years, announced his decision at the association’s general assembly on 14 November in Puerto Varas, according to local business publication

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Published on
November 21, 2017

Nearly a month after a salmon wellboat sunk of the coast of Chiloe in southern Chile, cleanup and recovery efforts are just getting started, and the cause of the accident that affected the nearly new wellboat “Seikongen” is still under investigation. 

The wellboat sunk off the coast of Chonci, in the Chiloe islands on 19 October, carrying around 200 tons of salmon. The boat is owned and operated by Chilean firm CPT Empresas

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Published on
November 3, 2017

The Chilean government’s Committee of King Crab Fishery Management has expressed concern over a proposed environmental plan for the sector, but still plans to request an extension of the current 2017 season. 

The committee is made up of representatives of small scale artisan fishers, processing plants and government authorities. The body is financed by the regional Magallanes government.  At its October meeting, the relatively

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