Cooperation Networks and Institutional Participation

At the international level, IFOP annually participates in various forums and relevant Regional Fisheries Organizations.  As part of the national delegation and in compliance with its role as advisor to the Undersecretariat for Fisheries and Aquaculture, IFOP provides advice on many issues within its competence. Many IFOP officials also participate in other international instances in representation of the institution. 

IFOP participates in several international boards of important research centers, committees and working groups convened by different bodies and organizations, where the institute contributes its expertise in different topics.

INTERNATIONAL 

– REGIONAL FISHERIES ORGANIZATIONS

Intergovernmental Organization established within the context of the Convention for the Conservation and Management of Fisheries Resources in the High Seas of the South Pacific, adopted in November of 2009 and ratified by Chile in 2012, that is committed to using a precautionary and ecosystem approach to fisheries management, to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of fishery resources and, in so doing, to safeguard the marine ecosystems in which these resources live. The main commercial resources fished in the Convention area in the Southwest Pacific are Jack Mackerel and Squid.

IFOP participates in annual meetings organized by SPRFMO as part of the Chilean delegation, headed by the Under-Secretariat for Fisheries and Aquaculture. In these and other forums, conservation and management measures are adopted to comply with the objectives of the Convention, and the nature and scope of the participation of the members concerning fishing activities of certain stocks is determined. The institution also participates in the Scientific Committee, where scientific assessments of the state of fishery resources are planned, developed and reviewed; advice and recommendations are provided to the Commission and its Subsidiary Bodies based on the assessments made; and advice and recommendations are provided on the impact of fishing on the marine ecosystem in the Convention area.

Commission created in the context of the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources  adopted in 1980, and ratified by Chile in 1981. The Convention was created in response to the growing interest in the commercial exploitation of Antarctic Krill, as well as the possible impact of this fishery on species of seabirds, pinnipeds, whales and fish whose staple food is krill. Its objective is to conserve Antarctic marine fauna and flora. The Commission is the relevant body where conservation measures are adopted to regulate the rational use of marine living resources in the Antarctic.

IFOP is a member of the Commission’s National Section, leaded by the Under-Secretariat for Fisheries and Aquaculture, and participates Scientific Committee and Working Group meetings as part of the Chilean delegation.  The role of the Scientific Committee is to provide the Commission with the best scientific information on fishery levels and other management issues considering the results obtained in research conducted by the Members of the Convention under national scientific programs.

– RELEVANT FISHERIES FORUMS

The Committee is a subsidiary organ of the FAO council created by the Conference carried out by this organization in 1965. It is presently the is the only global intergovernmental forum that regularly reviews major international fisheries and aquaculture issues and problems and makes recommendations to governments, regional fisheries organizations and other relevant actors in the international community. 

The Committee's main functions include reviewing FAO's fisheries and aquaculture work programs, as well as their implementation, and undertaking studies related to international fisheries and aquaculture issues, to assess possible solutions by taking joint actions by member countries, FAO's intergovernmental bodies and civil society.

IFOP participates in COFI meetings as part of the Chilean delegation headed by the Undersecretariat for Fisheries and Aquaculture.

This Regional Maritime Organization was created to coordinate maritime policies to ensure the conservation and responsible use of natural resources and their environment for the benefit of the integral and sustainable development of their peoples. The Commission was created under the “Declaration on the Maritime Zone” signed in 1952 by the governments of Chile, Ecuador and Peru, and finally Colombia in 1979.

IFOP participates in the following Technical Scientific Committees (CTC), Regional Scientific Committees (RSC) and Working Groups (WG) of the Commission, all of which are part of the Action Plan for the Protection of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas of the Southeast Pacific, approved in 1981.

Created in 2006 within the framework of the Regional Action Plan for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, Rays and Chimeras in the Southeast Pacific Region (Shark-PAR), to advise the CPPS in scientific, technological, technical, planning, and organizational areas, to implement and execute the above Action Plan on a permanent basis.

Created within the framework of the Regional Program for the Conservation of Sea Turtles in the Southeastern Pacific in 2008, it is the regional body that provides technical and scientific assistance to the CPPS related to planning, prioritization, implementation of measures and follow-up of the Regional Program.

This Scientific Committee is a core part of the regional research capacity on marine climate and its variability with emphasis on ENSO El Niño and La Niña events.  The Committee integrates its studies and information, and prepares technical reports for governments, technical institutions and productive and social sectors, within the framework of the Program for the Regional Study of the El Niño Phenomenon in the Southeast Pacific (ERFEN), in force since 1976, and the ERFEN Protocol established in 1992 to promote the exchange of researchers for scientific and technical cooperation.   The Committee also strives to enhance national capacities related to information management and data interpretation to improve the forecasting capacity of the El Niño phenomenon and contribute to the mitigation of its effects.

The objective of the Committee is to coordinate efforts and capabilities that contribute to the annual diagnosis and evaluation of physical, chemical and biological oceanographic conditions, and atmospheric conditions in the Southeast Pacific, within the framework of the ERFEN Protocol, undertaking Regional Oceanographic Surveys that seek to characterize oceanographic and meteorological conditions in the area in order to learn about their behavior and anticipate their evolution.

– OTHERS 

The Convention is an international agreement aimed at ensuring that the international trade of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. CITES provides a wide range of protection to over 36.000 animal and plant species that are included in three Appendices.

Chile subscribed to CITES in 1975 and its implementation was regulated by Law 20.962, 2016.  As a Contracting Party, Chile must designate one or more Management Authorities in charge of administrating the licensing system to grant import or export permits for trade in species, and one or more Scientific Authorities to advise the Management Authority regarding the effects of trade on species status.

IFOP was designated in 2025, by means of Executive Decree issued by the Ministry for the Economy, as CITES Scientific Authority for trade in aquatic species. In addition to this task, IFOP also participates in the CITES National Committee headed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This binding multilateral Agreement seeks to ensure the conservation of albatross and petrel populations globally through coordinated actions of its Parties to mitigate threats to these populations. The Agreement entered into force in 2004 and was ratified by Chile in 2005, and involves 31 albatross and petrel populations, of which 11 species of albatross regularly visit the Chilean territory during their migrations and two have established colonies in austral islands, while five species of petrels migrate toward our waters in search of food.

Within the framework of this Agreement, an Advisory Committee was established in 2005, with the purpose of providing expert advice and information to Contracting Parties, the Secretariat and other bodies. IFOP participates in the Committee meetings as part of the Chilean delegation, led by the Undersecretariat for Fisheries and Aquaculture.

This Commission was established in 1960 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the purpose of working to protect the health of the ocean through coordination in various thematic areas, including research, services, capacity building, among others. At present, the IOC is working to understand more about the nature and resources of the ocean and coastal areas and to apply that knowledge to improve management, advance sustainable development, protect the marine environment and the decision-making processes of Member States. 

IFOP has participated as a guest in the International Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms (IPHAB), initiative that seeks to support Member States in developing the research and management capabilities required to understand the causes of Harmful Algal Blooms, predict their occurrence and mitigate their effects. Likewise, since 2023 the FIFG participates in the Scientific Steering Committee of the  Global Harmful Algal Blooms, GlobalHAB) of the IOC and the Scientific Committee on Oceanographic Research (SCOR), scientific body focused on fostering and promoting cooperative research aimed at improving the understanding and prediction of harmful algal bloom events, and providing scientific knowledge to manage and mitigate their impacts in the context of global climate change and increasing anthropogenic pressures on aquatic ecosystems.

Since 2023, IFOP also participates in the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Assembly as part of the Chilean delegation headed by the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Chilean Navy (SHOA), focal point of the IOC in Chile.

This network was developed in 2017 within the context of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Working Group (FAWG) of the Pacific Alliance, as an initiative of economic and development integration between four Latin-American Nations: Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.  The Fisheries and Aquaculture Working Group aims to strengthen trade and human consumption of fishery and aquaculture products; promote aquaculture, conservation and sustainable use of aquatic resources; further a circular economy approach, which will allow the joint development of fisheries and aquaculture sectors in member countries; and promote fisheries and aquaculture research in the Pacific Alliance.

The Network is comprised by representatives from IFOP, Chile; Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras José Benito Vives de Andréis (INVEMAR), Colombia; Instituto Mexicano de Investigación en Pesca y Acuacultura Sustentables (IMIPAS), Mexico; Instituto del Mar de Perú (IMARPE), as official members.  Other participants include Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP) from Argentina and FAO.

The purpose of the Network is to “Create an open and inclusive network of fisheries and aquaculture research institutes, with the purpose of building, in a participatory and consensual manner, an area of deep integration to progressively advance towards the best generation of scientific knowledge in fisheries and aquaculture for the sustainable management of these resources in the countries of the Pacific Alliance”.

IFOP participates in Network meetings on a regular basis and in period 2022 (II)- 2024 (I) assumed its executive secretariat until the first half of 2024.

The IWC was established under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, signed in 1946 and ratified by Chile in 1979, whose purpose is to provide for the conservation of cetacean populations and thus enable an orderly development of the whaling industry. The Commission is the international body in charge of the conservation of whales and the management of whaling, for which it must establish and review measures that regulate activities associated with cetaceans worldwide. These measures, among other things, provide complete protection for certain species; designate specific areas as whale sanctuaries; establish the number of whales that may be captured; prescribe open and closed seasons for whaling; and prohibit the capture of calves and female whales accompanied by calves. In addition, the Commission compiles catch data and other relevant statistical and biological data. 

 IFOP, together with the Undersecretariat for Fisheries and Aquaculture attends the Commission meetings as part of the Chilean delegation, headed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Convention, adopted in 1996 and ratified by Chile in 2010, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the legal framework for the countries of the American Continent to take actions to protect these species, by implementing jointly agreed measures, coordinating multilateral conservation and protection actions, and by ensuring the implementation of a regional agenda to recover them.

IFOP participates in the IAC Consultative Committee of Experts whose objective is to advise and guide the Conference of the Parties to comply with the mandate of the Convention, with respect to promoting the protection, conservation and recovery of sea turtle populations and the habitats on which they depend, considering the environmental, socioeconomic and cultural characteristics of the Parties. 

A forum that convenes research vessel operators from organizations in 30 countries that manage over 100 vessels around the world, which develops national research programs that collect data at sea following established protocols for open access to results. IRSO promotes the safe, efficient and environmentally responsible operation of research vessels in support of the global marine scientific research community by providing a venue for operators to: share information and best practices regarding the design, management and operation of vessels and associated scientific equipment; explore and develop opportunities to share and/or exchange vessel time, personnel, instruments and equipment; Benchmark their operations with those of other operators; and promote the research vessel community and provide expert advice to other agencies as needed.

The first IRSO meeting was held in 1987, and IFOP joined as a member and has participated in annual meetings since 1996.

– National

CEQUA is the first Regional Center created in Chile (2002) under the Regional Program funded by the National Commission for Science and Technology (CONICYT), presently the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID), with the mission of generating science, technology and innovation capabilities across Chile, through the implementation and monitoring of projects aimed at creating and strengthening Regional Centers for Scientific and Technological Development, throughout the national territory.

The center was established as result of an alliance between the Universidad de Magallanes, IFOP, the Chilean Antarctic Institute, the Regional Government of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, all considered as founding institutions. Therefore, IFOP has been part of the Board of Directors since its creation.

Public agency whose main function is to coordinate the institutions that carry out research and activities related to marine sciences in Chile. Created in 1971, it originally consisted of nine member institutions, among them IFOP. Today it is made up of 31 institutions.

IFOP participates regularly in the Committee's meetings, and is also a member of the following Working Groups (WGs):

Harmful Algae Bloom Working Group (GTFAN, its abbreviation in Spanish)

This group was created in 1993 to advise CONA on all matters related to red tide and other algal blooms that have repercussions on human health, aquaculture and fisheries. It is responsible, among other things, for: structuring and strengthening a database related to the occurrence of red tide events and other harmful algal blooms; coordinating activities at the national level with specialists in the subject and other related disciplines; and coordinating and organizing inherent activities with other countries in the region, to encourage the exchange of knowledge and scientific experiences.

Marine Sciences Data Management Working Group (GT GIM, its abbreviation in Spanish)

Active since 1994, its activities include: developing activities and/or projects aimed at identifying and systematizing the sources and access points to Chilean marine scientific literature to make it available to researchers; and promote the exchange of aquatic and marine scientific information among the information units belonging to CONA, especially information generated as a result of the activities of the Committee and its WGs.

Aquatic Biodiversity Working Group (GT BIODIV, its abbreviation in Spanish)

Created in 1997, its tasks include: to evaluate and coordinate actions to address Chile's main challenges in the preservation and rational use of its aquatic biodiversity in marine and freshwater ecosystems; and encourage the study of marine biodiversity through the dissemination of CONA's activities, in particular the organization and conducting Marine Research Surveys in Remote Areas (CIMAR), undertaken by the Chilean Navy.

Aquatic Environment Contamination Working Group (GT CONTA)

Operating since 1972, its function is to coordinate and channel the efforts of the institutions that conduct marine pollution research throughout the country to them and their scientists together to share opinions and criteria to face environmental emergencies.

Ocean-Atmospheric Dynamics Working Group (GT DOCA)

GT DOCA was created in 1987, its main tasks include: to coordinate efforts to develop research programs on the coupled ocean-atmosphere system and encourage research projects that are included in these programs; promote the exchange of national and international scientific information to support the activities of the working group; and learn about the scientific activities that are developed in national institutions related to ocean-atmospheric matters, in order to plan and coordinate possible tasks of common interest recommended by the WG.

“El Niño” and Climate Variability Working Group (GT ENVAC)

This working group was created in 1994 to establish a coordinating body between national, regional and international programs related to the El Niño phenomenon and its effects on fisheries, agriculture and climate; strengthen and improve national scientific capacity by training and upgrading scientists and technicians; and gather information to prepare the annual national report that Chile submits to international bodies.

Oceanographic Information and Data Exchange Working Group (GT IDIOC)

Created in 2023, this working group seeks, among other things: to promote through Chile’s National Hydrographic and Oceanographic Data Center (CENDHOC), the exchange of marine data and information at the national level; and promote collaboration among national agencies and institutions that obtain, process and record marine related information and documentation.

Aquaculture Working Group (GT ACU)

Created in 2017, this working group strives to identify gaps and promote the diversification of national aquaculture with an ecosystemic approach; contribute to the dissemination of knowledge through programs that disseminate and value the scope of national aquaculture as a driver for national development; and promote actions that motivate academic institutions to encourage youth and young professionals to specialize in aquaculture and related careers. 

Remote Perception and SIG Working Group (GT PERSIG)

Active since 1991, is responsible for: coordinating public and private institutions, researchers, consultants and academics involved with the use of remote sensing in the field of Marine Sciences; develop capabilities in Aerospace Remote Sensing; and promote the development of research programs and projects using these technologies.

 Ocean Culture Working Group (GT COCEAN)

Created in 2023, its creation contributes to the implementing the specific recommendation made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and its Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), in the “Implementation Plan for the United Nations Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development 2021-2030”, which, among other aspects, urges all its member countries to develop their own National Ocean Culture Strategies.

Copas Coastal was created with funding provided by the Fund for Advanced Research in Priority Areas (Centers of Excellence FONDAP) in 2004.  This third stage that began in 2021, the center extended its geographic scope of action to include the coastal ocean of Chile, maintaining its approach toward researching its complex physical, chemical, geological and biological components.

COPAS Coastal seeks to contribute to improving the country's capacity to deal with present and future climate and anthropogenic modifications of coastal ecosystems, through oceanographic research, the development of interdisciplinary capabilities and the transfer of technology and knowledge.

IFOP has held a seat on the Center's Board of Directors since its creation in 2022, where progress is reported and assessed in accordance with the Strategic Plan.