Seed availability is one of the most important factors for the sustainability of mussel farming in southern Chile. Environmental variability, changes observed in historical collection areas, and the need to improve production planning have increased the demand for tools that provide access to scientific information useful for decision-making in the region. In this context, the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP) held the workshop “Using the Endemic Seed Platform for Decision-Making in Mussel Seed Collection” in Quellón. This workshop aimed to...
As part of the ongoing cooperation activities with the Pencopolitano High School B-40 in the Penco district, a practical workshop was held earlier this month for graduating seniors at the school. The IFOP professionals who participated were scientific observers Raúl Rojas, Héctor Pastor, Joaquín Aguilera, Jordans Fierro, and Rui Feng Wang. It is worth noting that Joaquín and Jordan are among the Pencopolitano High School alumni who are now part of our institute. The activity focused on identifying pelagic...
As part of the activities commemorating Maritime Month, the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP) actively participated in a beach cleanup organized by the Iquique Port Authority. This initiative brought together various public and private institutions, social organizations, students, and local volunteers. The activity took place on Cavancha Beach in the city of Iquique and drew dozens of participants who, organized into teams, covered the area collecting waste and promoting, especially among children, the importance of caring for the marine ecosystem....
Between June 2nd and 5th, at the SHOA facilities in Valparaíso, the opening ceremony of the 29th Joint Regional Cruise 2026 and the meeting of the 19th Specialized Database Working Group (GTE-BD) of the Permanent Commission for the South Pacific (CPPS) took place. IFOP was represented by its Executive Director, fisheries engineer Luis Parot Donoso; the head of the oceanography section, oceanographer Hernan Reyes; and Dr. Jaime Letelier, head of the oceanography department. Presiding over the opening ceremony were...
Puerto Varas, May 2026. More than 120 students and community members participated in the Water Fair 2026, a science outreach and community engagement activity organized by the Aquaculture Research Division of the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP), in conjunction with the Native Forest Foundation for Culture and the Arts. The event took place on May 27 at the Kunstgarten space in Puerto Varas, as part of Heritage Month and the commemoration of IFOP’s 62nd anniversary. Its objective was to bring...
In response to an invitation from the Professional Union of Artisanal High Seas Fishermen of Arica, the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP) participated in a working meeting focused on providing information about oceanographic and fisheries outlooks for 2026, considering the potential effects of El Niño on marine resources in the northern part of the country. The event took place at the union’s headquarters and included the participation of the Regional Director of IFOP Arica and Parinacota, Hernán Padilla, along with...
The Deputy Minister of Economy and Mining, Daniel Mas, visited the Scientific Research Vessel (BIC) Abate Molina in Valparaíso, accompanied by the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Osvaldo Urrutia, and the Executive Director of IFOP, Luis Parot. During the visit, the officials discussed the current status of the vessel, which is undergoing repairs, emphasizing the urgency of advancing the necessary procedures and work to ensure its prompt return to service, given its strategic importance for the country’s marine and...
Within the framework of the Humboldt II project, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the workshop “Standardization of the Spawning Biomass Estimation Protocol for the Anchovy (Engraulis ringens) Stock in Southern Peru–Northern Chile Using the Daily Egg Production Method (DEP)” was held at IFOP headquarters in Valparaíso from May 25 to 27, 2026. Participants included members of the DEP Subgroup of the Binational Technical Group for Direct Assessments: from IFOP (Jessica Bonicelli, Katty Donoso, Catherine Grendi, Hernán...
To commemorate the first anniversary of the Economics and Statistics Department (DEE) of the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP), and with the aim of bringing the Unit’s work closer to the community, a series of presentations by DEE professionals, led by the Department Head, will be held between May 26 and June 25. The presentations are described below according to the scheduled dates and times: Date Time Topic Speaker 26-05-2026 10 to 11 AM Importance of economics in national fisheries...
As part of the commemoration of “Sea Month,” the third edition of “Submerged Aysén” was held with a large turnout. This initiative was organized by the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP), the Aysén Regional Fisheries Directorate, and a broad network of public institutions, social organizations, educational establishments, companies linked to the regional maritime sector, and local artists Pablo Lema and Romanet Seguel-Rojas (painting and dance). The main objective of the event was to bring the community closer to the invaluable...
As part of Marine Month, staff from the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP) conducted various science outreach activities to bring knowledge of the marine ecosystem closer to the community of the Arica and Parinacota region. The first activity took place on Friday, May 15, at the Ricardo Olea Guerra Special School in Arica, where students participated in an educational exhibit about marine species found along the northern coast of Chile. Through taxidermied specimens, the children were able to observe and...
