Claudio Cerda Silva: "Aquaculture is the future. We must commit ourselves to a bigger vision where all modes of aquaculture are embraced and accepted as an environmentally sustainable way to produce food the world needs."

Troutlodge boss joins fish farming lobby group board

Editorial team
Published

United States fish farming lobby group the Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) has announced that Troutlodge general manager Claudio Cerda Silva has joined its 14-person board of directors.

Troutlodge, based at Bonney Lake, Washington state, is owned by Dutch company Hendrix Genetics and is the world’s leading producer of eyed trout eggs. Cerda leads a 60-person team and has plans “to bring Troutlodge to version 2.0”.

NWAA president Jim Parsons, chief executive of Jamestown Seafood, described Cerda as “a visionary leader who will bring a valuable international perspective to our leadership team”.

“Claudio Cerda has the vision and commitment to develop the US aquaculture industry as it has developed in major producing countries where he has worked in various aquaculture sectors,” added Parsons, a former general manager of salmonid farmer Cooke Aquaculture Pacific.

Cerda, from Chile, is in his third spell with Troutlodge, and has also worked for Patagonia Salmon Farming, Los Fiordos, and Invertec, among others.

A bigger vision

He said he looked forward to working with the NWAA board to address and overcome the challenges facing aquaculture, particularly in the Pacific Northwest region, where Washington state public lands commissioner Hilary Franz last year declared a unilateral ban on open net pen fish farming in state waters.

“Aquaculture is the future,” Cerda said. “We must commit ourselves to a bigger vision where all modes of aquaculture are embraced and accepted as an environmentally sustainable way to produce food the world needs. It’s happened in other countries; it should happen here.”

Cerda has a degree in Aquaculture Engineering from Los Lagos University in Osorno, Chile.

During his 28-year career, he has worked in Chile, Ecuador, and the US, managing operations primarily focused on salmon and trout. In addition, Cerda spent four years managing a shrimp farm in Ecuador for a joint venture between global feed company Skretting, Hendrix Genetics, and a local shrimp producer.

Cerda believes his experience in the major species in aquaculture as well as his leadership in several companies will help him to understand, visualise and analyse the production processes in a global and more effective way.

northwest aquaculture alliance claudio cerda silva troutlodge news