Puerto Montt, with the goal of improving communication and facilitating access to timely information on Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), which arise from the red tide monitoring and research programs carried out by the Center for Harmful Algal Studies (CREAN) of the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP), officially launched a set of outreach tools aimed at preventing and mitigating the impact of this phenomenon on coastal communities.
Three initiatives were presented at the event:
- Manual of Phytoplankton of the Inland Sea of Chiloé, Guaitecas Archipelago, and Piti Palena Estuary, presented by Gissela Labra.
- i~HAB mobile application, presented by Pamela Carbonell, which enhances the use of digital tools for information distribution.
- WebGIS platform, presented by Christian Espinoza, for the dissemination of relative abundance estimators for harmful taxa within the framework of the Red Tide Programs.
The activity was organized by the IFOP CREAN and took place at Casa Pauly in Puerto Montt, a heritage site that brought together researchers, authorities, and community members interested in learning about these technological solutions and educational materials.
Approximately 40 people attended the event, including the Regional Secretary of Economy of the Los Lagos Region, the regional head of the Environmental Superintendency, the regional director of Sernapesca, Health Service officials, academics from the Austral, Los Lagos, and San Sebastián Universities, as well as IFOP professionals.
“The HAB dissemination tools presented at this event seek to strengthen the management, dissemination, and access to information by public institutions, the academic world, and society in general, as well as improve understanding, identification, and monitoring of red tides and their effects in the center and south of our country,” said Oscar Espinoza.
In her presentation, Gissela Labra emphasized, “My main motivation was to raise awareness about the harmful or damaging phytoplankton species that pose a direct risk to human health, marine fauna, and the aquaculture industry, especially salmonids and mussels. This manual integrates the taxonomy, morphology, and geographic distribution of the main species present in the Chiloé inland sea, the Guaitecas archipelago, and the Piti Palena estuary, constituting a key tool for understanding phytoplankton in this area of the country.”
Pamela Carbonell presented the new version of the i~FAN mobile app:
“It is aimed at artisanal fishermen, small-scale aquaculture farmers, the general public, and anyone who needs information on Harmful Algal Blooms, from the Biobío region to Magallanes. It is available for free download on Android and Huawei devices, and starting August 30th, also on iOS.”
Finally, Christian Espinoza explained the features of the WebGIS Platform:
“It is an innovative tool for disseminating estimates of relative abundances of harmful taxa within the framework of the Red Tide Programs. Its design allows for monitoring and disseminating geospatial information to better understand the spatiotemporal variability of these abundances. It integrates advanced geospatial technologies that offer scientific data in near real time through WebMaps, Dashboards, GeoStories, and Geoservices, with visualizations accessible to authorities, researchers, and the general public. It also includes training modules to educate its users. More information at: http://sig-acuicultura.ifop.cl.”
During the event, free copies of the Phytoplankton Manual were distributed, and a space for dialogue was created between the audience and exhibitors, culminating in the author signing copies.
The organization especially thanked Casa Pauly for providing its event hall, Luis Henríquez for the photographs, and all the CREAN-IFOP colleagues for their collaboration and commitment to the development of these tools.
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