Farmed salmon is one of the most popular and valuable fish consumed in the United States. Over half of farmed salmon imported to the U.S. comes from Chile, the world's second-largest producer of farmed salmon and the largest exporter to the U.S. In 2022, the market value of Chilean salmon exported to the U.S. was $3 billion. However, two-thirds of Chilean farmed salmon is rated red by Seafood Watch due to the high use of antibiotics.
The Chilean salmon farming industry struggles to control, Piscirickettsia salmonisan endemic bacterial disease that causes fish to die. To combat these bacteria, Chile uses more antibiotics than any other salmon-farming country.
Increased awareness about the risks and challenges of antibiotic use has prompted the industry and government to seek solutions. In 2019, Monterey Bay Aquarium partnered with the Chilean salmon farming industry to launch the Chilean Salmon Antibiotic Reduction Program (CSARP). The initiative aims to reduce the use of antibiotics in Chilean farmed salmon by 50 percent by the end of 2025. In 2024, to recognize the companies that are leading progress toward that goal, the Aquarium and its partners introduced CSARP+ (PDF).
We’re collaborating with industry to share data and reduce antibiotic use. We’re also working to fill critical research gaps about the effects of antibiotics in aquaculture and to share expert knowledge. Through CSARP+ (PDF) we’ll be able to track company-level progress in real time, note which companies have the most effective health plans and policies, and share lessons learned.
Chile
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Net pen
Equal to about 610,000 metric tons (95 percent of Chile's annual production of farmed salmon)
2024: Monterey Bay Aquarium launches CSARP+ (PDF) to recognize individual companies that are leading efforts to reduce antibiotic consumption in Chilean farmed salmon.
Non-CSARP+ member use per harvested MT CSARP+ member use per harvested MT — 50% antibiotic reduction goal: 206 g/mt by 2025
Data source summary: Salmon trade data taken from the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) (2020). Farmed Atlantic and Coho salmon production data are from the FAO (2022). Seafood Watch ratings data are up to date as of February 4, 2025. Antibiotic use by company and antibiotic use in Chilean Atlantic salmon production taken from the CSARP Annual Report (2022).
Programs director, global ocean conservation
Senior fellow, aquaculture science and innovation
Fellow, Chile aquaculture
Post-doctoral researcher, chemical carrying capacity, in partnership with Doris Soto and the Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research (INCAR)
