International Aquaculture Consultant
The declaration of the Aquaculture Innovation Alliance (AIA), issued in Puerto Montt on the occasion of InnAqua 2025, is more than a ceremonial gesture. It is a wake-up call and a roadmap addressing the main bottleneck currently facing global aquaculture. It starts from a truth that some find uncomfortable: humanity needs to produce more aquatic foods, because aquaculture is the animal protein system with the lowest relative footprint, and wild fisheries are no longer sufficient. However, it warns that in many countries regulatory frameworks have become uncertain and complex, slowing investment, innovation, and the very sustainability they aim to achieve.
What is valuable is that the AIA proposes a concrete path aligned with our ongoing discussions: public policies built through participatory and transparent processes, supported by digital platforms; science and technology as the foundation for decision-making, using data, artificial intelligence, and modeling to shorten timelines and improve evaluations; rebuilding trust among government, companies, and communities through permanent spaces for cooperation; strengthening international collaboration with verifiable goals in productivity and environmental stewardship; and transparency through open traceability, human capital development, and the adoption of biotechnology, renewable energy, and circular economy principles as pillars of 21st-century aquaculture.
Those of us who live in the south know this is not theoretical. Behind every confusing regulation, there are projects that stall, jobs that are postponed, and innovation opportunities that are lost. We also understand the cost of accumulated mistrust among industry, the State, and communities. That is why the AIA’s proposal touches a sensitive point: we need rules that provide certainty and spaces for dialogue where differences are addressed with information rather than slogans.
The message is clear: without smart regulations, there will be no future. And smart regulations do not mean less regulation, but better regulation—predictable, evidence-based, and capable of making timely decisions with social legitimacy.
For Chile, host of the meeting, the invitation is to move beyond permanent confrontation and advance toward a coexistence pact where production and the environment are no longer seen as opposites. If we take this call seriously, its effects can be reflected in the development of our southern territories and in a more mature relationship between industry and society.
From Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas, a global voice has emerged to challenge us. As residents of this region and witnesses to its aquaculture history, we are facing a rare opportunity: to transform a polarized debate into a forward-looking agenda. Listening to the AIA’s call may make the difference between remaining trapped in mistrust or becoming a benchmark for responsible aquaculture.
Adolfo Alvial
International Aquaculture Consultant
We drive a more innovative, sustainable, and inclusive aquaculture to strengthen global food security and well-being.
To foster collaborative innovation in aquaculture, making it a more sustainable, efficient, diverse, and inclusive sector.
To enhance global food security, nutrition, and well-being through innovative, inclusive, and sustainable aquaculture practices.
- Foster partnerships and launch joint research projects.
- Share solutions publicly for industry-wide adoption.
- Provide scholarships and training.
- Organize joint workshops and promote online learning platforms.
Raise awareness of the importance of innovation in aquaculture.
Join a global network of aquaculture innovation with access to projects, training, and strategic partnerships.
Solid structure and key activities to drive innovation in aquaculture. From strategic meetings to training and collaborative projects, we foster growth and global connection.
- The Assembly is the highest governing body.
- The Board of Directors oversees strategic planning and operations.
- Biannual assembly meetings.
- Collaborative project facilitation.
- Public engagement campaigns and training workshops.
- Knowledge-sharing through virtual platforms.
Access the Puerto Montt Declaration from the AIA, outlining eight priority actions to drive a more sustainable, efficient, and responsible global aquaculture sector.
Organizations in the process of signing are shown in sky blue.
Learn more about the AIA’s program proposal for emerging aquaculture countries, supported by the World Bank, FAO, and others.
Be a part of the global effort to transform aquaculture through innovation.
