The technical workshop “Status of Brown Algae Fisheries in the Tarapacá Region: Resource, Fleet, Market, and Management Recommendations” was held at the end of April in the Océano Sur room of the Gran Cavancha Hotel in the city of Iquique. The workshop was organized by the Regional Directorate for the Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá, and Antofagasta Regions, in conjunction with the Benthic Resources Unit of the Fisheries Administration Division of the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
This meeting brought together national and international experts, representatives from the artisanal fishing sector, academia, the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca), the National Fisheries Service (Sernapesca), the Chilean Navy, and researchers specializing in the study of macroalgae. The objective was to review the Tarapacá Region’s Brown Algae Management Plan, developed by its respective Management Committee. Representing IFOP were the regional director of IFOP Iquique, Claudia Molina, the Field Coordinator, Carolina Navarro, and researchers Andrés Olguín, Pablo Araya, and Carlos Techeira.
Presentations included Raúl Madrid, representative of the Artisanal Fisheries Management Committee; Dr. Marcela Ávila; Dr. Omar Defeo (University of the Republic of Uruguay); Dr. Julio Vásquez; Dr. Erasmo Macaya; Gabriel Jerez and Juan Carlos Villarroel, professionals from the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca); and IFOP researchers Andrés Olguín, Pablo Araya, and Carlos Techeira.
On behalf of IFOP, Researcher Andrés Olguín presented “Fisheries Indicators for Brown Algae Obtained Through Continuous Monitoring: Benthic Fisheries Monitoring Program,” while researchers Pablo Araya and Carlos Techeira presented their work to the attendees, titled “IFOP’s Contributions to Brown Algae Monitoring to Advise Management” and “Research Requirements to Establish the Status of Brown Algae Fisheries and Benchmarks for Management,” respectively.
The workshop was held over two sessions, morning and afternoon, and included a roundtable discussion. Thanks to the knowledge of the scientists and professionals, combined with the experience of the artisanal fishers, important conclusions were drawn, which will be incorporated into the respective management plan and subsequently disseminated among the users registered in the management plan.
