From November 30 to December 4, the city of Puerto Varas will become the global epicenter of salmon farming research as it hosts the highly anticipated Sealice Conference 2025. This event will bring together leading scientists, professionals, and decision-makers to address the challenges of sea lice control and sustainability in aquaculture production.
This year’s program features three keynote lectures that focus on critical themes for the future of the sector: animal welfare, salmon immunology, and artificial intelligence applied to marine sustainability.
On December 1, Dr. Paula Medina Henríquez from MetroCiencia, Chile, will deliver the keynote lecture titled “Aquatic Animal Welfare as Gateway to Resilient and Sustainable Aquaculture.”
An expert in marine sciences and animal welfare, Dr. Medina will open the conference with a reflection on how fish welfare is fundamental to responsible aquaculture. With a strong background in applied research and technology transfer, her presentation will explore practices that promote productive resilience and respect for animal life in intensive farming systems.
On December 2, Dr. Mark Fast, Professor at the University of Prince Edward Island, Canada, will present “From Genes to Environment: Shaping Our Understanding of Salmon Immunity.”
Renowned for his research in fish immunology and pathology, Dr. Fast will explore how genetic and environmental factors influence the immune response of salmon to parasites such as sea lice. His integrative approach promises to offer new perspectives for developing more effective and sustainable control strategies.
The third keynote lecture, “Navigating the Blue Frontier: Harnessing AI for Marine Sustainability and Addressing Ethical Challenges,” will take place on December 3 and will be delivered by Dr. Andrea Rodríguez-Tastets, offering an innovative perspective on the use of AI in marine conservation.
Dr. Rodríguez-Tastets is a computer science engineer from the University of Concepción. She is currently a full professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Vice-Rector for Research and Development at the University of Concepción. She also serves on the State Modernization Advisory Council and the National Council for Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation. She was a member of the expert advisory committee for Chile’s national artificial intelligence strategy and, until recently, chaired the Research Advisory Commission of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH).
Sealice Conference 2025 will feature 61 oral presentations across 12 thematic sessions, along with 25 scientific posters that reflect the dynamism and diversity of current research in parasite control, genetics, pharmacology, animal welfare, and emerging technologies.
This edition is organized by the Institute of Aquaculture of the Universidad Austral de Chile (Puerto Montt campus), the Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research (INCAR), and the Salmon Technology Institute (INTESAL). It is sponsored by MSD Animal Health, Cflow, Sudvet Corp, AQUA PHARMA Group, STIM, and Aquabyte, with media partners including Salmonexpert, Medios AQUA, InfoSALMON, Mundo Acuícola, Panorama Acuícola, and AQUACULTURE Magazine.
For more information on the full program and registration details, visit the official event website:
https://eventosintesal.cl/congresos/sealice/
