Puerto Varas, May 2026. More than 120 students and community members participated in the Water Fair 2026, a science outreach and community engagement activity organized by the Aquaculture Research Division of the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP), in conjunction with the Native Forest Foundation for Culture and the Arts. The event took place on May 27 at the Kunstgarten space in Puerto Varas, as part of Heritage Month and the commemoration of IFOP’s 62nd anniversary. Its objective was to bring...
In response to an invitation from the Professional Union of Artisanal High Seas Fishermen of Arica, the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP) participated in a working meeting focused on providing information about oceanographic and fisheries outlooks for 2026, considering the potential effects of El Niño on marine resources in the northern part of the country. The event took place at the union’s headquarters and included the participation of the Regional Director of IFOP Arica and Parinacota, Hernán Padilla, along with...
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...
Within the framework of the Humboldt II project, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the workshop “Standardization of the Spawning Biomass Estimation Protocol for the Anchovy (Engraulis ringens) Stock in Southern Peru–Northern Chile Using the Daily Egg Production Method (DEP)” was held at IFOP headquarters in Valparaíso from May 25 to 27, 2026. Participants included members of the DEP Subgroup of the Binational Technical Group for Direct Assessments: from IFOP (Jessica Bonicelli, Katty Donoso, Catherine Grendi, Hernán...
To commemorate the first anniversary of the Economics and Statistics Department (DEE) of the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP), and with the aim of bringing the Unit’s work closer to the community, a series of presentations by DEE professionals, led by the Department Head, will be held between May 26 and June 25. The presentations are described below according to the scheduled dates and times: Date Time Topic Speaker 26-05-2026 10 to 11 AM Importance of economics in national fisheries...
As part of the commemoration of “Sea Month,” the third edition of “Submerged Aysén” was held with a large turnout. This initiative was organized by the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP), the Aysén Regional Fisheries Directorate, and a broad network of public institutions, social organizations, educational establishments, companies linked to the regional maritime sector, and local artists Pablo Lema and Romanet Seguel-Rojas (painting and dance). The main objective of the event was to bring the community closer to the invaluable...
As part of Marine Month, staff from the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP) conducted various science outreach activities to bring knowledge of the marine ecosystem closer to the community of the Arica and Parinacota region. The first activity took place on Friday, May 15, at the Ricardo Olea Guerra Special School in Arica, where students participated in an educational exhibit about marine species found along the northern coast of Chile. Through taxidermied specimens, the children were able to observe and...
From May 4 to 8, 2026, the international symposium on small pelagic fish, “Navigating Changes in Small Pelagic and Forage Fish Communities: Climate, Ecosystems and Sustainable Fisheries” (SPF-2026), was held in La Paz. This scientific meeting brought together specialists from various countries to address the effects of climate variability, ecosystem changes, and the challenges associated with the sustainable management of small pelagic fish. Chile was represented by researchers from the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso (PUCV), the University of...
On May 13th, the Marine Month Fair was held at the Penco High School. An IFOP team attended, as in previous years. Regarding the event, Cristián Villouta, Field Coordinator of the pelagic project, which includes an outreach component, stated that the objective of their participation was to show the high school students the work carried out by their scientific observers, who could be future sources of employment. The workshop delved into the work carried out on board artisanal and...
From April 2nd to May 6th, 2026, Pamela Carbonell A., a researcher at the Center for the Study of Harmful Algae (CREAN) of the Aquaculture Division based in Puerto Montt, participated in the scientific expedition aboard the German vessel METEOR. The expedition covered a 2,500-nautical-mile transect, departing from Punta Arenas and calling at the port of San Vicente in the Biobío Region. The expedition, identified as TRACK-HAB (“Tracking the footprint of an extreme harmful algal bloom event”), campaign M218,...
