31 August 2026
In the Tarapacá Region, very close to the mouth of the Loa River, lies Caleta Río Seco, one of the most productive artisanal fishing areas in northern Chile. Its fishermen harvest important marine resources, mainly sea urchins and octopus, which are later sold and even reach supermarket chains.
It is precisely in this location that the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP) is taking another step in strengthening ocean observation and generating environmental information for the coastal zone.
In addition to the meteorological station that IFOP already operates in Caleta Río Seco, a new MUSUX model oceanographic buoy has been added, expanding the area’s environmental monitoring capabilities.
The buoy was acquired by IFOP from the Chilean company Wolke, and its installation was made possible through the collaborative work of specialized personnel from the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP) and Southern Tech Solutions, incorporating top-quality Chilean technology.
Its installation required a significant technical and logistical effort, including the transport and preparation of the equipment, coordination with the fishermen of Caleta Río Seco, assembly of the buoy’s various components, preparation of the mooring system, installation and configuration of sensors, and finally, its deployment and commissioning at sea.
This new platform will strengthen the continuous collection of oceanographic data and complement the records obtained from the meteorological station located in the area, moving towards integrated observation of ocean and atmospheric conditions.
One of the most important aspects of this initiative is that the data generated by the buoy is transmitted in real time and can be viewed directly through an IFOP web platform. In this way, the information is not restricted exclusively to the scientific community, but is available to the general public, facilitating its access for artisanal fishers, researchers, institutions, and the community at large.
Real-time data can be accessed at:
https://giscc.ifop.cl/boya_ifop/public/
With this installation, IFOP continues to strengthen its oceanographic and meteorological observation capabilities and, at the same time, advances its commitment to generating, integrating, and making environmental information publicly available, bringing scientific knowledge closer to coastal communities and contributing to a better understanding of ocean conditions.
