Tribute, Inclusion and the Future: What Awaits Us at LACQUA25
I would like to begin this column by dedicating a special space to express our deepest gratitude and recognition for the remarkable contributions of our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Humberto Villarreal, who sadly passed away recently. His departure leaves a significant void in the aquaculture community, but his legacy will remain alive in our hearts and through the work he inspired in so many of us.
Dr. Villarreal was an exceptional scientist and a tireless advocate for aquaculture in Mexico, throughout Latin America, and across the globe. I had the privilege of working closely with him during his tenure as President of the Latin American and Caribbean Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society (2017–2019), and more recently, during his time as WAS Global President (2023–2024). His leadership, vision, and passion for aquaculture will be deeply missed and forever remembered. We are going to miss him!
Looking ahead, I’m pleased to announce that LACQUA25 will take place October 6–9, 2025, in Puerto Varas, Chile. This is the leading aquaculture event for Latin America and the Caribbean, organized by the World Aquaculture Society – Latin American and Caribbean Chapter (LACC-WAS) in collaboration with INTESAL and the Universidad Austral de Chile.
Each morning will begin with a keynote address by a distinguished regional expert:
- René Garreaud on Climate Change and Aquaculture: A Latin American and Caribbean Perspective
- Stefan Partelow on Governance for Sustainable Aquaculture
- Alicia Gallardo on Health and Welfare of Aquatic Organisms
In addition to a comprehensive scientific program, the congress will feature high-impact workshops on topics such as:
- Interdisciplinary science to address current and future aquaculture challenges
- Aquaculture genetics
- Small-scale aquaculture
- Capture-based aquaculture
- Harmful algal blooms (HABs)
- Aquaculture nutrition
The scientific sessions will be structured around core themes:
- Nutrition, reproduction, health and welfare
- Production systems, technology and innovation
- Genetics and genomics
- Biology and physiology
- Aquaculture and the environment
- Processing, certification, standards and commercialization
- Socio-ecology, sustainability and policy
Abstract submission deadline: July 31, 2025. Submit your abstract at: https://www.was.org/meeting/Abstract/Submit/LACQUA25
The event will also offer technical tours to production facilities, research centers, and hatcheries, as well as an official visit to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, one of southern Chile’s most iconic natural landscapes.
The trade show will bring together local and international companies, creating a high-visibility platform for:
- International businesses seeking to enter the dynamic Chilean aquaculture market
- Chilean companies looking to showcase their innovations to a regional audience
LACQUA events have seen remarkable growth: over 1,900 participants and 70+ companies in Mérida (2022), and more than 2,000 attendees in Medellín (2024). LACQUA25 is set to continue this tradition of excellence, bringing together science, business, and
collaboration in one powerful platform.
In other news, as part of our commitment to equity, LACC WAS proudly supported and provided funding for the recent “Empowering Women in Caribbean Aquaculture” Leadership Summit. Despite high educational achievement and active participation in aquaculture, women in the Caribbean remain underrepresented in leadership roles. This online summit held March 10–22, 2025, marked a significant milestone in efforts to close the leadership gap and advance gender equality in Caribbean aquaculture.
- For more information about the trade show of LACQUA26 please contact Carolina Amezquita: carolina@was.org and visit the event webpage at https://www.was.org/Meeting/code/LACQUA25.
— Luis Andrés Gonzalez-Agraz, President
