The scientific vessel Abate Molina. (Photo:IFOP)

Senate Fisheries Commission meets on board scientific vessel

CHILE
Friday, July 20, 2018, 01:00 (GMT + 9)

Senators of the Commission of Maritime Interests, Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Upper House met on Wednesday aboard the scientific vessel Abate Molina, to know the work being developed in the field.

The vessel, which is 28 years old, but is fully operational, conducts research on marine resources, which are essential for the work of the scientific committees of the Sub-secretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SUBPESCA) and the decisions that the service adopts in the exercise of its faculties.

The ship was donated to Chile by Japan, belongs to SUBPESCA and is operated by the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP).

The senators stressed the importance of scientific work for the fishing sector and raised the need to strengthen the country's capacity in this area.

"The Fisheries Committee of the Senate is interested and concerned about contributing to the problems of the fishery and aquaculture in the solutions and, in this context, we think it is particularly important to hold a session on board a ship such as the Abate Molina, which It is dedicated to the research of hydrobiological resources," said Senator Rabindranath Quinteros, president of the commission.

Along with assessing the visit of the congressmen to the boat undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture Eduardo Riquelme stressed that today there are approved resources to acquire a smaller vessel that will allow the development of research in coastal areas, where pelagic resources are concentrated.

Regarding the Abate Molina, and beyond that it is fully operational, Riquelme stressed that the Government is aware of the fact that the vessel has been in service for 28 years.

IFOP executive director Luis Parot, meanwhile, said that the session is a very powerful signal, regarding the concern that exists about increasing the capacity of scientific research in the national sea.

"In Chile we are all very concerned about the state of the oceans, for the preservation of species, for the conservation of resources in the long term and, consequently, this is a very powerful signal that the IFOP, the Government and the Senate, insofar as this is a cross-cutting issue that requires everyone's concern, " Parot said.

The Abate Molina is 43 metres long and is equipped with three laboratories, nets and other elements that allow it to collect samples of different types and at different depths.

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