Experts gather to promote electronic monitoring of Chilean fisheries

The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) and the Undersecretariat for Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca) have organized the workshop Advancing Electronic Monitoring of Fisheries in Chile, which brought together national and international authorities and experts.

This initiative, carried out in collaboration with NGOs Future of Fish and The Nature Conservancy, aims to identify the main challenges in designing effective and efficient solutions for a monitoring program to be partially implemented in the artisanal fishing sector.

Among the advantages of this technique is the potential to move toward more sustainable fishing practices by reducing bycatch and protecting species such as albatrosses and cetaceans.

It also facilitates product traceability and compliance with international agreements. Finally, monitoring helps protect both vessels and their crews.

However, the National Director of Sernapesca, María Soledad Tapia, noted that "cost constraints remain the main obstacle to the widespread implementation of this technology, particularly in the artisanal sector."

In August, Sernapesca and the Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (Favet) formalized their collaboration on monitoring and research to improve salmon farming practices.

One of the new developments was that Favet will have easier access to public information to develop internships, courses, seminars, and workshops for both Sernapesca officials and members of the faculty's academic community.