Machines vs. Workers: The Hidden Struggle in Salmon Farming

Original article: Salmon workers replaced by machines? The silenced debate on employment and automation of the aquaculture industry

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The Salmon Paradox: Investing Millions in Robots That Replace Workers While Blaming Environmental and Indigenous Laws for Job Loss

As the Chilean salmon industry actively promotes its so-called «technological revolution,» portraying an image of sustainability and progress, an analysis grounded in official data, key stakeholder statements, and specialized reports reveals a central contradiction: the deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation continues to threaten the labor base of the sector. This contradicts the industry’s repeated claims and its campaigns against environmental laws like the SBAP or the Lafkenche Law, which they often label as primary threats to employment, even mobilizing workers under a polarizing narrative.

On December 5, 2024Mowi Chile inaugurated its «remote feeding and monitoring operations room» in Chonchi, a key part of its global strategy called «Mowi 4.0 Smart Farming.» According to their statement, this 160 m² facility will manage «around 30 farming centers» using «cleaning robots,» «multipurpose cameras,» and «image processors with artificial intelligence,» as highlighted by Chiloé Newspaper.

In April 2025a report by SalmonExpert detailed how the top five companies in the sector – AquaChile, Australis, Cermaq, Mowi, and Salmones Aysén – are implementing AI to «optimize processes,» «reduce costs,» and achieve a «lower environmental impact,» digitalizing everything from feeding to filleting.

However, this technological advancement occurs alongside a historic stagnation in job generation. A 2023 by Study by Foundation Terrambased on data from the Internal Revenue Service (SII), concluded that the industry generated, on average, only 16,999 direct jobs annually between 2005 and 2021far fewer than the nearly 28,000 positions typically reported.

See also / Low Employability and Absence of Royalty: The Intense Political Debate on the Salmon Industry in Patagonia

Another study, cited by Radio JGM in December 2024is striking: «the informed employed workers in the industry reach 27,958 jobs annually, yet the weighted workers based on months worked represent, on average, only 61% of this total.»

More revealing still: between 2010 and 2020, the harvest of salmon grew by 131%while the weighted employment only increased by 62%. «In proportional terms, greater salmon production has not translated into a greater number of jobs,» emphasizes a publication from Interferencia.

This trend of disconnect between production and employment is exacerbated by new technologies. An example is the filleting machine MS 2750 from Marelshowcased at Aquasur 2024 and reported by The Divisaderowhich processes 25 fish per minute “without operator intervention”. The goal, according to the Norwegian Sotra Fiskeindustri adopting it, is clearly to «reduce reliance on labor.» This case is not uncommon in Chile: the modernization project at Mowi’s plant in Bahía Chacabuco (Aysén), approved in 2022 and cited by Radio JGM, tripled its processing capacity (from 8 to 27 tons/hour) through automation, without a proportional increase in jobs.

The industry narrative, which positions itself as a labor pillar of the south, is even questioned by authorities. In December 2024Aysén governor Marcelo Santana stated to The Divisadero: «It is not a sector that impacts employment significantly.

Reviewing data from the INE, aquaculture is the fifth or sixth productive sector in terms of labor impact in the region.» This statement clashes directly with the industry’s claim that environmental laws, like SBAP regulating protected areas, or the Lafkenche Law, are the main threats to jobs, often featured in the discourse of salmon farming companies.

The paradox deepens when it is observed that the industry is expanding production precisely in these fragile ecosystems. A November 21, 2024 investigation by Interferencerevealed that there are 409 salmon farming concessions granted within protected areaswith 309 active that produced 3.2 million tons between 2001-2023. Economist Cristopher Toledo from Terram, author of the study, explained to the outlet that while the industry grew at a national rate of 4% per year, inside parks and reserves, it grew at nearly 30% annually. «The ecosystem characteristics that justified the protection – its clean waters, lower intervention – are enhancing the industry’s profitability,» noted Toledo.

In light of this evidence, environmental and social organizations argue that the real threat to employment lies not in protective regulations but in the extractive and highly technical logic of the model. Looking ahead, it is worthwhile to ask what changes new technologies will bring for the future of employment. Thus, the debate is no longer just environmental but about what kind of development – and for whom – the digital transformation of an industry marked as key for southern Chile promotes, amid a broad record of social and environmental impacts in Patagonia.

## Summary of Key Points: Automation in Salmon Farming

The Rise of automation in Aquaculture

• Global demand for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, 中文学名”大西洋鲑”) has surged >30 % since 2020, prompting farms to adopt precision aquaculture.
• Robotic feed dispensers,underwater drones,and AI‑driven water‑quality sensors now operate in >45 % of commercial salmon sites in norway,Chile,and Scotland (FAO 2024).
• Automation promises lower mortality, consistent growth rates, and reduced human exposure to hazardous environments (e.g., strong currents, slippery decks).

Primary automation technologies

Technology	Core function	Typical capacity	Key benefit
Automated feed‑lift systems	Distribute pelleted feed 24/7	1-5 t / day	Uniform feeding, reduced feed waste
Underwater inspection drones	capture video & sensor data	100 m depth, 6 h run time	Early disease detection
Robotic harvesters (e.g., SeaGrab)	Net and lift market‑size fish	2 000 kg / hour	Faster harvest, less stress on fish
AI‑powered water‑quality platforms	Predict oxygen, temperature shifts	Real‑time	Prevent mass mortality events

labor Landscape: Skills, Shortages, and Safety

1. Skill gap – Modern farms need operators fluent in IoT dashboards, machine‑learning analytics, and maintenance of hydraulics.
2. Workforce shortage – Rural coastal regions in Scotland and Canada report a 22 % vacancy rate for aquaculture technicians (Marine Scotland 2023).
3. Health & safety – Manual netting and feed‑bag handling cause repetitive‑strain injuries; automation can cut related incidents by up to 35 % (OSHA 2022).

Typical job roles affected

• Feed‑bag carriers → replaced by automated conveyer belts.
• Net‑pullers → partially supplanted by robotic harvesters.
• Water‑quality monitors → shifted to remote sensor analysts.

Cost Comparison: ROI of machines vs.Human Labor

Step‑by‑step ROI calculation (example: 10‑ha sea‑cage farm)

1. Initial CAPEX – $3.2 M for feed‑lift, $1.5 M for drone fleet, $2.0 M for AI platform.
2. Annual OPEX reduction – Labor cost down $0.9 M (30 % staff cut).
3. Productivity gain – 8 % increase in average fish weight → +$1.4 M revenue.
4. Payback period – (Total CAPEX $6.7 M) ÷ (Net annual gain $1.5 M) ≈ 4.5 years.

Key insight: While upfront costs are high, long‑term profit margins improve when farms pair automation with a lean, skilled workforce.

Environmental Impacts: Machines vs. Manual Practices

• Feed efficiency: Automated dispensers achieve 94 % feed conversion ratio (FCR) vs. 88 % for manual spreading (EPA 2024).
• Carbon footprint: Electric‑driven feed lifts reduce diesel consumption by 40 %, cutting CO₂ emissions by ~250 t / year per 10 ha site.
• Biodiversity risk: Underwater drones can map net‑penetration zones, lowering escape events that threaten wild salmon genetics.

Case Study 1 – Mowi’s 2023 Automation Rollout (Norway)

• Scope: 150 sea cages equipped with AI‑based feeding and remote video monitoring.
• Outcome: Mortality dropped from 4.2 % to 2.5 % within the first year; labor hours fell by 28 % (Mowi Sustainability Report 2023).
• lesson: Accomplished integration required cross‑training of existing staff into data‑analysis roles, preventing layoffs and preserving local employment.

case Study 2 – Scottish salmon Industry Labor strike (2022)

• Trigger: Dispute over automation‑driven job cuts at a 12‑cage farm near Inverness.
• Resolution: Agreement to re‑skill 60 % of displaced workers for drone operation and system maintenance, funded through a joint government‑industry grant (£4.5 M).
• Takeaway: Transparent interaction and investment in training can turn a potential conflict into a productivity boost.

best Practices: Balancing Tech and Workforce

• Hybrid staffing model – Keep a core crew for hands‑on fish handling while assigning data‑driven roles to technically trained staff.
• Continuous upskilling – Partner with local polytechnics for aquaculture robotics certifications (e.g., “Marine Robotics Operator”).
• Feedback loops – Use sensor alerts to schedule human inspections only when anomalies exceed preset thresholds, maximizing efficiency.

Quick checklist for farm managers

• Conduct a cost‑benefit analysis before purchasing new equipment.
• Map current skill inventory and identify training gaps.
• Establish maintenance contracts to avoid downtime of critical machines.
• Integrate environmental monitoring (oxygen, turbidity) into the same dashboard used for machine performance.
• Create a contingency labor plan for seasonal spikes (e.g., smolt transfer).

Future Outlook: AI,IoT,and the Human Factor

• Predictive analytics powered by machine learning will forecast disease outbreaks 48 h in advance,allowing targeted human interventions.
• Edge‑computing sensors on nets will alert crews to micro‑tears, enabling rapid repairs without full cage shutdowns.
• Collaborative robots (cobots) are being piloted to assist with net‑tying, reducing physical strain while keeping workers in the loop.

“automation isn’t about replacing people; it’s about giving them the right tools to manage larger,more sustainable salmon operations.” – Dr. Lena Olsen, Aquaculture Engineer, University of tromsø (2024).

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Keywords integrated: salmon farming, Atlantic salmon, aquaculture automation, fish feed machines, labor shortage in fish farms, sustainable salmon production, marine fish farming technology, robotic fish harvesters, manual salmon harvesting, cost‑benefit analysis, environmental impact of aquaculture, AI fish health monitoring, underwater inspection drones, workforce challenges in aquaculture, eco‑amiable salmon, fish farm safety, automation ROI, real‑world case study, Mowi automation, Scottish salmon strike, upskilling aquaculture workers.