13 October 2026
The Regional Office of the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP) participated on Thursday, October 8, in the 2026 Science and Technology Festival held at Centenario Park in Arica. The event was organized by the Regional Ministerial Secretariat of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Knowledge for Arica and Parinacota.
The event brought together various regional ministerial secretariats, public agencies, regional directorates, research centers, and private companies, all of which set up information booths to bring science, knowledge, and environmental management closer to the community.
At the event, IFOP professionals shared an exhibit with students, officials, and the general public featuring marine species recorded in the region—some of which are characteristic of tropical and equatorial waters. The exhibit explained how environmental variability, climate change, and phenomena such as El Niño can alter the geographic distribution of marine species, leading to the presence of species typical of tropical environments in areas where they are usually less common.
Additionally, the IFOP team provided information on the importance of the oceanographic and environmental monitoring conducted by the Institute. They highlighted the “Integrated Marine Observation System” (S.I.O.M.), a free, publicly accessible online tool that provides relevant data for understanding ocean conditions and their relationship to environmental and fishery processes in the region.
The event underscored the value of having continuous, timely scientific information to improve the understanding of extreme phenomena, anticipate their potential effects on marine ecosystems and productive activities, and support fisheries institutions in decision-making and the design of adaptation measures to address the challenges of climate change. IFOP’s participation in this initiative reaffirms its commitment to science communication, environmental education, and engagement with the regional community, promoting knowledge of marine biodiversity and the importance of scientific research in understanding the changes the ocean is undergoing and strengthening the adaptive capacity of coastal areas.
