Seminar in Puerto Varas brought together experts to analyze upwelling technologies in the mitigation of HABs, highlighting the collaboration between industry and academia to face challenges in aquaculture
During the second week of August, in Puerto Varas, the International Seminar “Comprehensive Approach to Upwelling Technologies for Mitigation of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)” was held, organized by Imenco Aqua Chile. The event brought together experts from the aquaculture industry, academia and the insurance sector, with the purpose of analyzing advances in upwelling technologies, crucial to mitigate the adverse effects of HABs in aquaculture.
Among the speakers, the participation of Dr. Prem Thodi, Project Manager of C-CORE Canada, stood out, who presented the results of a study carried out in Canada on the effects of different upwelling technologies at sea. Also participating were Alejandro Clément, General Manager of Plancton Andino, who spoke about the oceanography of HABs and their mitigation; Dr. Mauricio Urbina from the University of Concepción, who spoke about the characteristics of an upwelling system as a mitigation measure for HABs; Felipe Chacana, General Manager of SF-MSE, who analyzed the life cycle cost in the transportation and production of compressed air; and Dr. Patricio Díaz from the University of Los Lagos, who evaluated new sampling strategies for harmful algal blooms in Patagonian fjords.
The importance of this seminar was also highlighted by the main salmon producing companies. Pamela Urrutia, head of environmental management at Mowi Chile, expressed: “Instances like this are very necessary to continue learning how to take care of our biomass. Since 2016, at Mowi we are very interested in generating more resources for research and thus increasing the survival of our biomass. and reduce risks.” Urrutia also highlighted the value of surveillance and collaboration with initiatives such as those promoted by Imenco to safeguard the health of crops.
For his part, Oscar Hofmann, head of environment at Salmones Austral, commented on the growing relevance of HABs in the industry, stating that “the issue of HABs has been increasingly recurrent in the company. Since 2016, we have been monitoring both in phytoplanktonic communities and upwelling systems. It is crucial to know what the industry is doing and the latest technology available. Hofmann emphasized the need for monitoring and modeling protocols to anticipate phenomena and make strategic decisions.
The seminar organized by Imenco Aqua Chile was not only a space for the exchange of knowledge, but also a valuable opportunity for industry and academia to collaborate in the development of innovative solutions that address the challenges of HABs. The positive evaluations of the salmon producing companies reinforce the importance of continuing to strengthen these instances of dialogue and joint learning.
Source: www.mundoacuicola.cl
