The Deputy Minister of Economy and Mining, Daniel Mas, visited the Scientific Research Vessel (BIC) Abate Molina in Valparaíso, accompanied by the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Osvaldo Urrutia, and the Executive Director of IFOP, Luis Parot.
During the visit, the officials discussed the current status of the vessel, which is undergoing repairs, emphasizing the urgency of advancing the necessary procedures and work to ensure its prompt return to service, given its strategic importance for the country’s marine and fisheries research.
Operated by the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP), the Abate Molina is one of Chile’s main scientific platforms. It was built at the MIHO shipyards in Japan thanks to a donation from the Japanese government, arriving in the country in March 1991. Its name honors the Jesuit priest Juan Ignacio Molina y González, recognized as Chile’s first scientist.
In over three decades of operation, the vessel has sailed more than 700,000 nautical miles and conducts an average of seven scientific cruises per year, traversing the coast from Arica to the Chacao Channel and even beyond 200 nautical miles.
The Abate Molina plays a key role in scientific biomass studies and assessments of the state of national fisheries, using acoustic technology and trawling nets to monitor resources. It also carries out oceanographic research and analyses on the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems.
“We were aboard the Abate Molina Research Vessel, a key vessel for fisheries research and for determining fishery resources to support the entire fishing sector nationwide. We spoke with its crew, and it’s very interesting to learn about everything you do on board and its importance for Chile,” explained the Deputy Minister of Economy and Mining, Daniel Mas.
The Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Osvaldo Urrutia, emphasized that “the Abate Molina is a strategic tool for Chile, because it provides essential scientific information for making responsible decisions about our marine resources and the future of fishing. Despite its age, the IFOP team makes a daily effort to meet the necessary schedule and enable the management of such important fisheries as sardines, anchovies, jack mackerel, and hake.”
For his part, the Executive Director of IFOP, Luis Parot, stated that “this vessel has been a symbol of national fisheries and oceanographic research for decades. Today, there is a full awareness of the need to move quickly with its restoration so that it can once again fulfill its mission at sea.”
The research campaigns carried out by this vessel generate essential information for decision-making based on scientific evidence and for strengthening the sustainability of Chile’s marine resources.
Source: subpesca.cl
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