The Chilean delegation, composed of Indigenous leaders and small-scale fisheries representatives, will bring to Barcelona a proposal that connects sustainability, food systems, and ancestral knowledge.
From April 21 to 23, a new edition of the Seafood Expo Global / Seafood Processing Global will take place at the Gran Vía venue of Fira de Barcelona, the world’s leading seafood industry event. Organized by Diversified, this will be the largest edition to date, featuring over 52,950 m² of exhibition space, more than 2,300 companies from 86 countries, and 65 national and regional pavilions.
In this global setting, a Chilean delegation composed of Indigenous leaders, coastal communities, and small-scale fishers will participate with the aim of highlighting the key role of territories and traditional knowledge in ocean sustainability.
A Voice from the Territories
The delegation will present a perspective that directly connects consumption decisions with marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
Through narratives such as “The ocean also pays the price” and “Knowledge that sustains the ocean”, they seek to expand the conversation beyond a purely production-driven logic, showing that traditional practices already actively contribute to conservation.
In this context, the role of the so-called Ocean Defenders—Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and small-scale fishers—is emphasized as central actors in marine governance, biodiversity protection, and climate action.
The proposal highlights that ocean governance is neither abstract nor exclusive to states or industries, but directly involves those who live in and care for these territories.
The initiative also underscores the importance of instruments such as the Indigenous Marine Coastal Spaces (ECMPOs), promoted in Chile through the Lafkenche Law (20.249), as concrete tools for sustainable, inclusive, and long-term territorial management.
Stand and Engagement with the Global Industry
The participation of the Chilean delegation will take shape through a stand designed to open a direct conversation with the global seafood industry, placing Indigenous Peoples at the center as key actors.
The proposal invites reflection on the impact of production decisions on ecosystems and communities, highlighting that their knowledge and practices are fundamental not only for ocean sustainability but also for business viability—positioning them as a strategic opportunity in economic and reputational terms.
More than an exhibition space, the stand recreates an experience inspired by the territories: a place to enter, sit, and engage in conversation.
The experience is built around a table and restaurant-style seating, where specially designed prompts will activate dialogue among participants.
The installation encourages interaction through:
- Guiding questions
- A rotating “menu” of topics that changes daily
- A traditional Lafkenche raft at the center, as a symbolic representation of the territory
The space is complemented by walls featuring data and photographs from the communities, along with graphic materials that allow visitors to explore these contents in depth and connect the industry with the territory from a more human and holistic perspective.
Delegation Members
The Chilean delegation is composed of:
- Yohana Coñuecar Llancapani, Mapuche Williche leader and aquaculture technician with over 15 years of experience in mussel farming and coastal management. Her work connects sustainability with productivity, highlighting the role of communities—especially women—in the mussel value chain.
- Ingrid Echeverría Huequelef, spokesperson for the Lafken Mapu Indigenous Community in Chiloé, with experience in seaweed harvesting and related production processes. She brings forward both the industrial and ancestral value of marine resources, as well as the challenges of equity within the commercialization chain.
- Elías Colivoro Chiguay, artisanal fisher, mussel farmer, and territorial leader from Yaldad, with experience across the entire Chilean mussel value chain. His approach combines production, territorial identity, and sustainability, promoting the development of local economies with added value.
QUOTES FROM LEADERS
In that context, the representatives agree on the need to broaden the industry’s perspective and bring communities into the global conversation.
“The seafood industry often speaks about efficiency, volume and markets—and that’s understandable. But it rarely stops to look at what is happening in the territories where that production is made possible. It rarely acknowledges that long before these global supply chains existed, there were already communities sustaining these ecosystems,” says Yohana Coñuecar Llancapani.
Ingrid Echeverría Huequelef adds:
“We are at the very beginning of the process: we harvest, dry, and prepare raw materials such as luga, which are later transformed and circulate in global markets. Yet that contribution is often invisible and not fairly valued. That is why it is important for us to be in these spaces—to show that behind every product there is knowledge, labor, and territory, and that a truly sustainable industry must also take responsibility for that.”
Elías Colivoro Chiguay adds:
“Mussel farming, which today supports a large share of Chile’s mussel production, has its roots in Indigenous peoples—in the traditional practices of our territories that shape consumption, exchange, and trade. Communities are not only part of the production chain; we are the ones who safeguard the balance between production and sustainability. The challenge is to access better conditions to compete, without losing that connection to the sea, which is also our way of life.”
A Contribution from Chile to the Global Debate
The participation of this delegation seeks to position Chile not only as a relevant player in the seafood industry but also as a reference for management models that integrate ancestral knowledge, sustainability, and territorial justice.
In a context of climate crisis and increasing pressure on marine ecosystems, the proposal from Indigenous leaders highlights that including communities in decision-making is not only a matter of equity but a necessary condition to ensure the continuity of oceans and global food systems.
Additional quotes from meetings:
“We are part of the territories where this activity takes place, and also part of the production chain. Communities are not an obstacle—on the contrary, we help ensure that these activities are sustained over time, through a more organized and responsible use of resources.” — Elías Colivoro
“Development must go hand in hand with the care of the spaces that provide us with food. Communities contribute through practices that sustain ecosystems and allow these activities to continue over time.” — Yohana Coñuecar Llancapani