From April 21 to 25, IFOP Valparaíso professionals Pablo Araya, José Fuentes, and Oscar Gallo visited the Magallanes Region to conduct training workshops for scientific observers working at the monitoring centers in Punta Arenas (Barranco Amarillo), Puerto Natales, and Porvenir.
In this regard, Researcher Pablo Araya, head of the southern and austral subzone of the monitoring program, stated: “A group of professionals visited the region with the goal of strengthening and standardizing the methodological processes associated with data collection for monitoring benthic fisheries of great importance to the Magallanes region, such as sea urchin, red lua, and southern oyster, among others. Topics covered included data collection protocols in different locations, problems detected in data entry and validation by the institutional computer system (SID-MP) and expert corrector, and training on georeferencing and standardization of benthic information.”
Juan Miranda, a scientific observer from Puerto Natales, stated: “Without a doubt, these workshops serve to enhance our technical and scientific capabilities, which we can then apply to the monitoring activities we carry out at landing ports and aboard artisanal boats that extract benthic resources.”
Additionally, on Wednesday, April 23rd, an outreach activity was held at the María Behety de Menéndez Comprehensive Technical High School, attended by junior and senior high school students (specializing in aquaculture), along with its director, Marcela Andrade, teachers, regional authorities, and private companies. During this event, Erik Daza, Regional Head of IFOP, gave a talk aimed at disseminating the strategic role IFOP plays in generating scientific and technical knowledge for the sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture in the region. He also highlighted the link between María Behety High School and IFOP, which has resulted in students completing internships in artisanal fisheries monitoring.
Pablo Araya also presented the objectives of the Benthic Fisheries Monitoring Program to the attendees, emphasizing the continuous collaboration with the artisanal benthic fishing sector for more than two decades in the Magallanes Region.
During the 24th and 25th, a visit to Puerto Natales took place where a talk was held at the SIPRUMAR fishing plant where they were cordially received in their facilities and then gave way to the presentation of the Benthic results in the period between the years 2020-2024 in the Magallanes region, highlighting the support provided by the company for the embarkation of our scientific observers in fishing operations, as well as the willingness to show us the production process of the sea urchin.
