The “Biological and Fisheries Data Exchange Protocol Workshop for the Shared Anchovy Stock in Southern Peru and Northern Chile” was held in Viña del Mar from September 1 to 5. This activity was part of the programming of the Binational Working Group (GTB) on Fisheries Biology and the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (SCCT) of the Humboldt II Project, an initiative implemented by the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Chile and the Vice Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Peru, with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Specialists in anchovy reproductive biology, fishery monitoring, and estimation of catch per unit of effort and age and growth from the Peruvian Institute of the Sea (IMARPE) and the Chilean Institute for Fisheries Development (IFOP) participated in this workshop.
The objective of the workshop was to agree on and draft a protocol for exchanging data from the anchovy fisheries in southern Peru and northern Chile, which is routinely collected by the two institutions responsible for scientific research for stock management, and thus advance stock modeling.
At the opening ceremony, Gonzalo Pereira, Executive Director of IFOP, explained, “At the end of this second workshop of the fisheries biology group, we will be able to exchange data to facilitate the analysis of the anchovy stock in southern Peru and northern Chile. He emphasized that once the Humboldt II project’s activities began in March 2024, a very intensive and productive agenda has been achieved. Since then, the five GTBs considered in the SCCT have held six in-person workshops and several virtual ones, with significant participation from professionals from both institutions and extensive technical work, which will allow us to work for many years to come. The Director highlighted the professionalism of the members of both IFOP and IMARPE teams in achieving the project’s goal.”
Alejandro Gertosio, Binational Coordinator of the Humboldt II project, stated: “This is the second workshop on standardizing fisheries biological data collection, and one of our project aspirations is to facilitate technical bodies in achieving standardization of anchovy biological and fisheries data collection in the study area in both countries. In this way, the coordinated work of the five GTBs aims to support Peru and Chile in improving the optimal exploitation of fisheries resources, in this case anchovy.”
Dr. Marilú Bouchon, General Director of Pelagic Research at IMARPE, emphasized that participating in this workshop fills us with joy and pride because both countries are making progress in standardized mechanisms for the exchange of scientific data and methodologies to conduct an anchovy assessment that allows for the sustainable use of the stock and also strengthens ties between the two institutions. This is something that helps both countries.”
Carola Hernández, Senior Researcher at IFOP, Head of the Chilean delegation, said, “This workshop is a continuation of the first workshop held in Lima in June of this year, where sampling methodologies and procedures for data collection were reviewed. The importance of this second workshop is that it allows for the exchange of biological and fisheries data through protocols that establish the data and/or information to be exchanged, their structure and descriptors, those responsible, and delivery dates.”
Press related links:
