The Chilean Salmon Council has appointed the journalist Gonzalo Silva as regional director for southern Chile.

Silva, who takes up the role on March 15, will be based Puerto Montt, Chile's main processing hub.

He will be responsible for strengthening the council's presence and communication channels with salmon producers in the leading salmon producing regions of Los Lagos, Aysen and Magallanes.

Silva edited the Chilean aquaculture industry publication Aqua for 18 years.

The Chile Salmon Council, made up of AquaChile, Cermaq, Mowi Chile and Salmones Aysen, was formed last year. It accounts for roughly half of Chilean production.

“We want to play an active role in the southern regions and with the communities, on issues of sustainability and regional development, and for that we need the presence on the ground of someone who knows this industry in detail and the issues that are important to people in each region,” said Salmon Council Executive Director Joanna Davidovich.