A study conducted by researchers from the “Socioeconomic Sustainability” research line of the Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research (INCAR) explored how the so-called “Mussel Miracle” was forged—that is, how the Chilean mussel industry managed to evolve from exporting insignificant volumes (approximately 2,000 tons in the early 1990s) to becoming the world’s largest exporter of this species, with 400,000 tons in 2020. This achievement positioned Chile as the second-largest global producer, after China.
The study, led by Dr. Marjorie Baquedano (University of Bío-Bío/INCAR), Dr. Carlos Chávez (University of Talca/INCAR), Dr. Jorge Dresdner (University of Concepción/INCAR), and Dr. Håkan Eggert (Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg, Sweden), analyzes the environmental, economic, and social impacts of this expansion, as well as the current challenges faced by the industry.
The research is based on semi-structured interviews conducted with various key informants in the Los Lagos Region (where nearly all national mussel production is concentrated), a thorough review of the existing literature, and an analysis of recent data obtained through the application of the Aquaculture Performance Indicators (API) methodology, which is used to assess the performance of aquaculture production systems in the country.
Reasons Behind the Boom
“The expansion of the mussel industry in Chile is a complex and multivariable process, involving several key determining factors. The study identifies the main elements behind the rapid growth of this industry, highlighting the role of favorable natural conditions, active policies in research, promotion, and international trade, private investments both domestic and foreign, a workforce with prior experience in mussel harvesting, and favorable conditions in the global mussel market,” explain the authors in the paper published in Reviews in Aquaculture.
The researchers emphasize that the existence of basic enabling natural conditions—such as climate, suitable water quality, and oceanographic and environmental factors—explains why the industry has developed exclusively in the Los Lagos Region and not in other areas of the country.
In addition, the development of government policies that promoted research in mussel aquaculture, the creation of pilot farming centers that were later transferred to non-state actors, and an active trade policy that reduced tariffs and established agreements with numerous countries were actions that helped create the necessary conditions for the industry’s takeoff.
Likewise, the interest of national and international stakeholders in investing in the Chilean mussel industry, the acquisition and development of technological improvements, and the formation of a business cluster involving firms of various sizes enabled increased production, entry into new markets, and reduced production risks.
The workforce needed to sustain this growth was found in coastal communities with experience in mussel harvesting. Finally, external conditions that favored the development of this industry include the massive growth and shift toward more processed product formats in global mussel demand, the reduction in refrigerated maritime transport costs, and the opening of the European market to Chilean exports.
Challenges for Continued Growth
While basic natural conditions exist for the sector’s economic viability, it is also essential to have favorable external conditions that enable the growth of the industrial sector. This requires knowledge about the potential of each industry to develop in a given territory, as well as insights into international market prospects.
Moreover, it is crucial to generate acquired conditions that drive industrial development. These conditions can be influenced by public policy measures. “In this regard, a growth-oriented policy involving various stakeholders and public-private agreements is highly relevant,” the researchers state.
From a public policy perspective, the findings of this article highlight the critical role of state-sponsored programs that incorporated private actors into mussel farming development, trade policies that strengthened the global competitiveness of Chile’s mussel industry, and the successful negotiation of free trade agreements to reduce tariff barriers.
Future growth will depend on maintaining favorable trade relations, especially with key markets such as the European Union and emerging Asian economies. Policymakers might also consider implementing targeted subsidies or support programs that encourage small producers to adopt certification processes, which are increasingly demanded by international buyers. Finally, a major challenge is to move beyond extensive production and gain control over all stages of the production process. Specifically, achieving profitability levels that allow the industry to overcome its dependence on uncontrollable environmental conditions at the base of the production chain (such as seed collection from the wild).
“The lessons that can be drawn for other efforts to develop marine resource-based industries around the world are that these are long-term projects requiring the simultaneous involvement of multiple factors and actors. There are no easy paths to industrial development,” the researchers conclude in the study.
You can view the study The Rise of Mussel Aquaculture in Chile: Causes, Effects, and Challenges here.
