Scallop aquaculture growth: Four decades of economic policy in Chile

Abstract

Scallop (Argopecten purpuratus), known as Ostión del Norte (Chile), Concha de Abanico (Peru), Vieira (Spain), and Volandeira (Brazil) is marketed in Europe as Noix de Saint-Jacques (France), Vieira del Pacífico (Spain) and Capessanta del Pacífico (Italy). Scallop production is the third largest aquaculture industry in Chile, with annual landings of 11,313 metric tons in 2019. Industrial and small-scale farming are geographically located in the north of the country. For the first time, private actions and economic policy that enabled the evolution of the scallop industry in Chile from 1980 to 2022 are presented. As an object of study, the scallop industry allows us to address the economic expansion of the aquaculture production sector through an analysis of the economic factors of production: land, labour, capital, and entrepreneurial skills. For the analysis, a detailed historical account of environmental, technological, economic, and governance developments is presented. A retrospective examination of the history of the scallop industry identifies the decisions made by public and private actors to improve the economic factors of production and assesses the effects of the decisions made over time. The current decline in production presents an opportunity to discuss the implications of each economic factor of production in this industry to revitalised it. Finally, the didactic presentation of information allows the recovery of the historical trajectory of production in terms of economic policies.