A delegation of Indigenous leaders and small-scale fisheries representatives from Chile has arrived in Barcelona to present proposals linking ocean sustainability, food systems, and ancestral knowledge at Seafood Expo Global. The event, held from April 21 to 23 at Fira de Barcelona, brings together more than 2,300 companies from 86 countries across 52,950 square metres of exhibition space.
The Chilean group is using the global platform to draw attention to the role of coastal communities in sustaining marine ecosystems. Their participation centres on presenting perspectives rooted in lived experience, with a focus on how traditional practices contribute to conservation and long-term resource management.
The delegation frames its contribution around narratives including “The ocean also pays the price” and “Knowledge that sustains the ocean”. These themes connect seafood consumption with environmental and social impacts, placing communities at the centre of discussions often dominated by production and trade.
In this context, the delegation refers to Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and small-scale fishers as “Ocean Defenders”. Their role is presented as integral to marine governance, biodiversity protection, and climate action, reflecting their direct relationship with coastal ecosystems.
The group also draws attention to policy instruments such as Indigenous Marine Coastal Spaces (ECMPOs), established under Chile’s Lafkenche Law (20.249). These frameworks are described as practical tools for territorial management that combine environmental protection with community stewardship.
At the event, the delegation’s presence takes the form of an interactive stand designed to encourage dialogue with industry participants. The space recreates elements of coastal territories, featuring a central table with restaurant-style seating to facilitate discussion.
Visitors are invited to engage through guided questions and a rotating menu of topics that changes daily. A traditional Lafkenche raft is positioned at the centre of the installation, serving as a symbolic link to the communities represented.
The stand also includes visual materials such as photographs and data from coastal territories. These elements are intended to provide context and enable industry stakeholders to connect production systems with the people and environments behind them.
Yohana Coñuecar Llancapani, a Mapuche Williche leader and aquaculture technician, emphasised the need to broaden the industry’s perspective. “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,” she said.
Ingrid Echeverría Huequelef, spokesperson for the Lafken Mapu Indigenous Community in Chiloé, pointed to the position of communities within global supply chains. “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, an artisanal fisher and mussel farmer from Yaldad, described the connection between Indigenous practices and current production systems. “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.”
The delegation includes representatives with experience across aquaculture, seaweed harvesting, and fisheries management. Their combined expertise spans the full value chain, from raw material extraction to processing and commercialisation.
Their participation reflects a broader effort to position Chile not only as a major seafood exporter but also as a country with governance models that integrate environmental management and community rights. The approach aligns with increasing attention on traceability, supply chain transparency, and social responsibility within global seafood markets.
The timing of the initiative coincides with heightened pressure on marine ecosystems linked to climate change, overfishing, and pollution. International forums such as Seafood Expo Global are increasingly used to address these challenges, bringing together industry, policymakers, and civil society.
Within this setting, the Chilean delegation is seeking to influence how sustainability is understood and applied in the sector. By focusing on territorial knowledge and lived experience, the group is presenting an alternative perspective to conventional industry narratives.
The proposal also reflects ongoing discussions around equity in global value chains, particularly for primary producers. Small-scale fishers and Indigenous communities often face barriers in accessing markets, finance, and decision-making processes, despite their role in resource stewardship.
By engaging directly with companies and stakeholders at the event, the delegation aims to open conversations about these structural issues. The stand’s design and format are intended to move beyond traditional exhibition models, encouraging exchange rather than one-way communication.
As the seafood industry faces increasing scrutiny over environmental and social performance, initiatives such as this point to a shift in how sustainability is framed. The inclusion of Indigenous knowledge and community perspectives is presented not only as a matter of equity, but as a practical consideration for the long-term viability of marine resources and global food systems.
