This concept reinforces the commitment to achieving sustainability in the fishing sector—encompassing both capture fisheries and aquaculture—by promoting the responsible use of resources and the conservation of ecosystems. The blue economy, which seeks to derive value from the seas while protecting ecosystem health, offers significant opportunities to boost our country’s fisheries exports. Chile possesses the natural conditions, scientific capabilities, and extensive production and management expertise to sustainably capitalize on new avenues for sectoral development linked to marine conservation, blue...
Serving as the Chilean State’s principal scientific advisor on fisheries and aquaculture On Wednesday, September 23, a delegation from the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP)—led by the Head of the Fisheries Research Division, Fisheries Engineer Jorge Castillo; the Head of the Economics Department, Dr. Camilo Torres; and the Head of the Oceanography and Environment Department, Dr. Jaime Letelier Pino—presented findings to the Chamber of Deputies’ Commission on Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Maritime Interests. They detailed the Institute’s ongoing monitoring of environmental...
The signing of the collaboration agreement reaffirms both institutions’ commitment to risk prevention, the well-being of individuals, and the strengthening of a culture of occupational health and safety. On September 22, the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP) and the Chilean Safety Association (ACHS) formalized a collaboration agreement, marking a significant milestone in the joint work both institutions are undertaking regarding Occupational Health and Safety (OHS). This agreement represents a significant step toward consolidating a strategic alliance aimed at strengthening preventive...
Puerto Montt, September 2026 – The Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP), through its Environment Department (Aquaculture Research Division), helped organize the second international webinar titled “Algae-based innovation for next combined aquaculture production II” in collaboration with the European Aquaculture Society (EAS). This activity is part of the INNOAQUA project—funded by the European Union via the Horizon Europe program (https://innoaquaproject.eu/about/)—which seeks to contribute to the development of a sustainable and diversified aquaculture industry through the large-scale demonstration and implementation of innovative...
This event, organized by the Environment Department of the Aquaculture Research Division at the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP), aims to share the results of projects conducted by the Putemún (Castro) Oceanography and Climate Group. Specifically, results from the following studies will be presented: Water exchange scales in Chilean Patagonian fjords and channels, 2025–2026 Atmospheric and oceanographic forecasting system, 2025–2026 Monitoring and modeling of the spatial and temporal variability of oceanographic processes in southern channels and fjords, 2025–2026 The event...
IFOP’s Monitoring and Surveillance Program for Mytilid Larval Availability—currently in its Stage XIV since March 2026—has detected a sharp increase in mussel larvae, with counts exceeding 500,000 larvae per cubic meter in Pichicolo. Starting in mid-August and early September, researchers began detecting the presence of pre-competent mussel larvae, marking the first signs of new reproductive events for the species. Since March of this year, the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP)—through the Environment Department of its Aquaculture Research Division—has been conducting...
In this edition of *Twitter Café*, broadcast from Radio Portales in Valparaíso, the program featured a conversation with Jurleys Vellojin, a senior researcher in the Environment Department of the Aquaculture Research Division at the Institute of Fisheries Development (IFOP). During the discussion, the expert—who holds a doctorate in Aquaculture Science—addressed one of the most silent yet concerning global phenomena linked to climate change: ocean acidification. She explained that the ocean’s massive absorption of CO₂ alters water chemistry and gradually...
During the interview, the specialist examines in depth the impact of the “El Niño” phenomenon on the Chilean coast, analyzing how rising ocean temperatures alter marine currents and create conditions conducive to harmful microalgae blooms (red tide). Additionally, the discussion covers the implications for public health, seafood safety, and risks to productive activities and the salmon industry in the country’s south, drawing on historical precedents such as the 2016 event.
On the occasion of another national anniversary, Luis Parot Donoso sent a message on behalf of the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP) to its employees, collaborators, and the families who make their living from the sea, from Arica to Puerto Williams.
Representatives from public institutions, academia, and civil society participated in a new forum for dialogue and collaborative work under the auspices of the Chile-Mexico Fund. Valparaíso, September 2026. Strengthening the participatory management of benthic fisheries and moving toward more effective co-management were the primary objectives of the third workshop titled “Small-Scale Fisheries Co-management: An Institutional Perspective,” held on August 25 and 26 in Valparaíso. The event took place within the framework of an international cooperation project funded by the...
In an interview with Radio Portales, Dr. Luis Henríquez Antipa, a senior researcher at the Institute of Fisheries Development (IFOP) in Puerto Montt, outlined the potential of restorative aquaculture as a key tool for balancing environmental, commercial, and social sustainability. This practice leverages the cultivation of low-trophic-level species—such as macroalgae and mussels—to provide essential ecosystem services: while algae capture carbon and generate oxygen, mussels filter excess nutrients and create habitats for marine biodiversity. In this way, IFOP’s research promotes...
Jonathon Barrington, Executive Secretary of the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP), meets with professionals from the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP). During the meeting, held at IFOP’s facilities in Valparaíso, various aspects of Chile’s commitment to the conservation of albatrosses and petrels were discussed, with a particular focus on measures to prevent and reduce seabird bycatch in national fisheries. Mr. Barrington’s visit to IFOP was part of a broader trip to Chile that included a visit...
IFOP is conducting two scientific expeditions to assess the impact of the El Niño phenomenon on anchoveta stocks. They will also serve to identify the appearance of other species, such as the jumbo squid.
Ten years after the historic impact of harmful algal blooms in 2016, Dr. Óscar Espinoza, head of the Center for the Study of Harmful Algae (CREAN) at the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP), analyzes the current challenges posed by the El Niño phenomenon in 2026 and the effects of climate change on the ocean. In this conversation, the specialist details how Chile has strengthened its scientific capacity through advanced monitoring and forecasting systems such as SIOM and Chonos, key tools...
