They presented relevant experiences and themes such as access to funding through INDESPA and INDAP, innovative initiatives in aquaponics and land-based fish farming, ecological restoration in contexts of Small Scale Aquaculture (IFOP), and the development of small-scale multi-trophic farming.
With an attendance of nearly 80 people from the communes of Carahue, Saavedra, Toltén and Temuco, Araucania region, the Seminar "Small Scale Aquaculture with emphasis on aquaponics and multi-trophic farming" was held, organized by Sernapesca with the support of the Lautaro Municipal Council and developed at the Lautaro Cultural Center.
The event featured the presence of the mayor of Lautaro, the Regional Minister of Economy, the regional director of the National Service of Fisheries and Aquaculture, and the participation of presenters from Sernapesca, the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture, IFOP, INDESPA, INDAP, the Catholic University of the North, the University of Valparaíso and users who shared their experience.
The regional director of Sernapesca in Araucanía, Mauricio Steffen, highlighted the importance of promoting spaces for meeting and collaboration around small-scale aquaculture: "We understand small-scale aquaculture as units with low production, few inputs, low technology and reduced capital investment. They are family or community projects that generate food and jobs in rural areas. From Sernapesca we are accompanying the incorporation of small-scale cultivation in the national register and promoting good practices that can be replicated through instances such as this in order to promote food security, through the production of safe and nutritious food.
Regarding this, the mayor of Lautaro, Ricardo Jaramillo, thanked that the activity took place in the commune, highlighting also the small-scale aquaculture of the sector: "We are very happy to have been the host of this important small-scale aquaculture seminar, especially when we have as a commune one of the oldest fish farms in South America, which was created in 1914. So we are happy to receive this" type of activities, which undoubtedly put Lautaro in the spotlight of national aquaculture.
Among the exhibitions, from Sernapesca, sectorial and regulatory considerations in small-scale aquaculture were addressed, providing a technical and strategic view on the challenges and opportunities of this productive sector.
Also, relevant experiences and themes were presented such as access to funding through INDESPA and INDAP, innovative initiatives in aquaponics and land-based fish farming, ecological restoration in contexts of Small Scale Aquaculture (IFOP), and the development of small scale multi-trophic farming (PUCV).
Cecilia Colil and Raúl Melinao (Perquenco), Cristian Leal (Nehuentúe) and Yusari Gavilán (Loncoche), managers of projects in the region, shared their experiences, providing concrete examples of entrepreneurship and productive diversification.
The day ended with a call to continue strengthening collaboration between public institutions, academia and communities, promoting projects that encourage innovation, environmental care and productive diversification in small-scale aquaculture.
