Divers from Laraquete harvest first Japanese oysters in management area

Initiative was supported by Celulosa Arauco, within the framework of the Ecosystem Studies Program of the Arauco Gulf (PREGA).

After ten months of intense work, the Independent Workers Union of Divers from Caleta Laraquete, in the province of Arauco, successfully carried out the first harvest of Japanese oyster (Pacific oyster) in the area of management and extraction of benthic resources (AMERB) located in this locality of the Biobío region.

This process was carried out under an experimental aquaculture permit, granted by the Subsecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture, with the purpose of evaluating the technical and productive feasibility of cultivating this species in the area.

Claudia Leal, president of the Union, said in this regard "today we are seeing the fruits of the work carried out over so many months, together with our partners and the institutions that are collaborating with us, therefore we invite everyone to taste these local products, supporting the effort of fishermen and women."

The initiative received support from Celulosa Arauco, within the framework of the Arauco Gulf Ecosystem Studies Program (PREGA), developing as support for productive development and, in this case, for local productive diversification. Verónica Zárate Guzmán, senior engineer of Quality and Environmental Culture at Empresas Arauco commented that "we are very pleased with the results of this project, as it has been addressed and developed by the" laraquete divers union"

Meanwhile, the director of PREGA, Renato Quiñones, stated that "this is one of the unions with the most experience in aquaculture in the region, as well as appreciating an important advance in the diversification of benthic crops."

Ana María Fernández, Regional Director of Sernapesca Biobío, stated in turn that "this experience being carried out in Caleta Laraquete will allow us to collect valuable information on the growth, survival and quality of the resource, contributing to the development of new management strategies and small-scale aquaculture in the Biobío region."