Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 24, 2025.
A delegation from the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP) participated between October 20 and 24 in the VIII Global Fisheries Forum and Seafood Expo, held in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The main objective of the visit was to strengthen scientific and technical cooperation ties with fisheries research institutions in that country, culminating in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO).
Chilean delegation and institutional participation.
The IFOP delegation took part in an intersectoral Chilean mission that included the National Director of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca), Ms. Soledad Tapia, the Executive Director of IFOP, Gonzalo Pereira Puchy, IFOP researcher Dr. José Zenteno, and the Ambassador of Chile to Russia, Mr. Eduardo Escobar, along with representatives from Chile’s salmon farming industry associations.
Technical meetings and strengthening of scientific ties.
During the visit, the Chilean delegation held several working meetings with VNIRO authorities and specialists, including Ilya V. Gerashchenko (Deputy Director of International Cooperation), Alexey V. Myshkin (Head of the Freshwater Fisheries Division), and Yuliya A. Malinina (Deputy Director of the Saint Petersburg Headquarters), among other distinguished researchers.
The discussions addressed strategic topics such as the assessment of transboundary resources, oceanographic modeling, and aquaculture, areas of common interest that will contribute to the development of joint projects. The delegation also conducted technical visits to VNIRO facilities and to a seafood processing plant, where they learned about Russian technological standards and their potential transfer to the Chilean fisheries sector.
Participation in the VIII Global Fisheries Forum.
During the Forum, the delegation accompanied the Sernapesca Director during her presentation on “Traceability in Chilean Salmon Aquaculture”. In addition, Dr. José Zenteno presented IFOP’s progress in the stock assessment of the jack mackerel fishery, highlighting national scientific work before the international community.
Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between IFOP and VNIRO.
The main milestone of the mission was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between VNIRO and the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP), signed by the Director of VNIRO, Kirill V. Kolonchin, and the Executive Director of IFOP, Gonzalo Pereira Puchy.
The agreement establishes long-term scientific and technical collaboration in areas such as aquaculture, fisheries stock assessment, and oceanography applied to fisheries, consolidating a new space for bilateral cooperation in the sustainable management of marine resources.
Next steps
The mission, supported by the Embassy of Chile in Russia, reinforced Chile’s scientific presence in international forums and opened new opportunities for cooperation with one of the world’s leading fisheries research institutions.
In the coming months, IFOP and VNIRO will work on the definition of a joint work plan, based on the commitments outlined in the Memorandum.
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