"Technology transfer for continuous oyster seed production" is the title of the initiative led by AquaPacífico.

Three aquaculture groups composed by fishermen artisanal of Tongoy were the beneficiaries of the recent seed delivery of north oyster (Purple scallop). Un milestone of the FIC-R project carried out by the AquaPacífico Center and funded by the Innovation Fund for Competitiveness of Coquimbo Regional Government (GORE), which aims to improve the availability of seeds of this marine resource for aquaculture farming in the locality of Tongoy.

The seeds were produced using the technological development and protocols implemented during the execution of the project, with the purpose of having these organisms of continuous way during the year, especially in periods of low availability, such as the seasons of autumn-winter. This activity is the culmination of a testing process of a pilot system of controlled production in hatchery that allows to generate seeds in periods of scarcity.

"The relevance of this milestone is related to the low availability of osthion seeds during the winter period that, due to reproductive aspects of the species, the possibility of having seeds of a caliber of 5 to 10 millimeters (mm) at this time it is very low", explains the Dr. Hernán Pérez, scientific researcher at AquaPacific and project director.

"The advantage of having seeds at this time will allow the growth of these be faster. because they will face a period of spring-summer in a upper size and with a better survivalthus benefiting osthion producers," adds Dr. Perez.

As proposed by Claudio García, legal representative of Pescamar (company benefiting from the project), what the company did to supply ostion seeds was to buy them from companies located in the north of the country, but sometimes these they didn't supply due to high demand for seeds and low production in controlled environments (hatchery).

"To implement such a system in the area would be of great benefit or help to the artisanal fisherman who exercises as a grower," he points out.

Wladimir Pleticosic, who is the governor(s) of the Coquimbo region, claims that in the GORE there is a interest in being able to support projects that are committed to innovation: "That is precisely the focus of this fund, that of developing the regional capacities and, in this case, we are supporting such a productive sector emblematic as is the oysterer."

For her part, the director of Carmen Rodriguez Henriquez High School de Tongoy, Pearl Araya, declared that it has been very relevant to participate in this event where seeds were given to three aquaculture companies in Tongoy, "because we have been part of this process. We've bonded always with AquaPacific for working together the improvements in the production of the species and as growers of osthion seeds, we are interested improving our processes also, in order to support local producers."

Linking with the local environment

The project was articulated with the following aquaculture companies of Tongoy: Sociedad Agua Marina S.A., Sociedad Solis Ltda. and Sociedad Pescamar S.A.; besides the Liceo Carmen Rodríguez Henríquez of the same locality, to transfer the knowledge and experience generated during the development of the initiative.

"Regarding the innovation being developed around the hatchery, is a yearning for years the power to maintain seeds when there is no spawning in the natural environment. To be able to supply or resupply crops in the harvest time and thereby achieve a continuous harvest, that is the main thing, and hopefully with this, power solving this problem that has been affecting the big and small oyster industry for years," argues Claudio García Torrejón.

Stop Oscar Leiva, teacher of the technical-professional area in aquaculture Lyceum of Tongoy, this project was a support to strengthen the learning processes of their students in training, since they had the opportunity to participate in each of the generation stages of seeds, i.e. from fixing, feeding, changing water to larval controls.

"This makes our theoretical processes practical and visible results"said, adding that "is fundamental continue working in this way with AquaPacific, the university and the companies that were associated with the project, since this generates a work network which strengthens both productive experiences and our educational work."

Follow-up

The delivery of seeds made it possible to expand the contact networks within the aquaculture environment of Tongoy.

In that context, Paula Vásquez, General Adviser of the Coquimbo Business Centre, he emphasized it is "very important" to participate in this type of activities, as it is a delivery of ostion seeds, "since they can be developed linkages both with local entrepreneurs related to the aquaculture sector through the provision of advice in the area of business management, as well as, generate advice in the social sphere through the accompaniment of Liceo Carmen Rodríguez in the topics related to the School cooperative that is in the process of implementation."