Species Use Database

Atlantic salmon
Salmo salar

Used for Food and feed and Medicine and hygiene in Pacific - eastern central

A. Species

Scientific name: Salmo salar

Common name(s): Atlantic salmon

Global IUCN Red List Threat Status: LR/lc


B. Location of use

Geographic location(s):

  • Pacific - eastern central

Country/Region: Chile


C. Scale of assessment

Scale of assessment: National Level

Name/Details of location: Chile


D. Timescale of use

Start Year: 1985

End Year: 2017


E. Information about the use

How is the wild species sourced?: Wild species sourced from the wild but reared/cultivated in a managed site and Wild species born/bred and raised/produced in captivity or through artificial propagation

Type of use: Extractive

Practice of use: Ranching, farming or cultivation or wild species

Lethal or non-lethal: Lethal

Does this use involve take/extraction of: The whole entire organism

Purpose(s) of end use: Food and feed and Medicine and hygiene

Motivation of use: Basic subsistence, Income generation from trade (individual/household/community) and Largescale commercial exploitation for trade

Is this use legal or illegal?: Legal under national law


F. Information about the Users

Which stakeholder(s) does the record primarily focus on?: Local people, National / local government, National / local private sector and International private sector


G. Information about the sustainability of use

Is there evidence that the use is having an impact on the target species?: Wild species sourced from the wild but reared/cultivated in a managed site and Wild species born/bred and raised/produced in captivity or through artificial propagation

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an ecological perspective been recorded?: No, sustainability not determined

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an economic perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable

Details of assessment carried out: this study

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: NB: Authors highlight a variety of potential serious problems with fish farming that could render the enterprise unsustainable in terms of social-economics as well as human and animal health. However, they provide also suitable suggestions that would negate such problems. Thus, if the recommendations are implemented, fish farming is - in the authors perception - sustainable in Chile

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a social perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable

Details of assessment carried out: this study

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: NB: Authors highlight a variety of potential serious problems with fish farming that could render the enterprise unsustainable in terms of social-economics as well as human and animal health. However, they provide also suitable suggestions that would negate such problems. Thus, if the recommendations are implemented, fish farming is - in the authors perception - sustainable in Chile

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a human health perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable

Details of assessment carried out: this study

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: NB: Authors highlight a variety of potential serious problems with fish farming that could render the enterprise unsustainable in terms of social-economics as well as human and animal health. However, they provide also suitable suggestions that would negate such problems. Thus, if the recommendations are implemented, fish farming is - in the authors perception - sustainable in Chile

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an animal health/welfare perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable

Details of assessment carried out: this study

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: NB: Authors highlight a variety of potential serious problems with fish farming that could render the enterprise unsustainable in terms of social-economics as well as human and animal health. However, they provide also suitable suggestions that would negate such problems. Thus, if the recommendations are implemented, fish farming is - in the authors perception - sustainable in Chile


Recommendations provided in the record to maintain or enhance the sustainability of the use of the target species

- More stringent regulatory design and sectoral management, - responsible future expansion of the industry that does not impact nature reserves and takes geographic variations in social characteristics into account, - suitable responses and adjustments in the face of climate change and climate variability, - proper handling and growth of public–private cooperation, - good governance, - knowledge and technology transfer


Record source

Information about the record source: scientific_pub

Date of publication/issue/production: 2019-01-01T00:00:00+0000

Source Reference(s):

Chávez, C., Dresdner, J., Figueroa, Y., & Quiroga, M. (2019). Main issues and challenges for sustainable development of salmon farming in Chile: a socio‐economic perspective. Reviews in Aquaculture, 11(2), 403-421.

Date of record entry: 2022-11-15