On December 4thTuesday, Distinguished Professor Takashi Gojobori of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Professor Emeritus Ichiro Imai of Hokkaido University and members of our project visited Nehuentue city. Nehuentue is at the mouth of Imperial river, the lower reach of Temuco, and close to one of our sampling sites (link). We met with members of farmers cooperative of Chilean large mussel, Choros Maltones, and administration office of Carahue city to introduce our project and exchange opinions about sustainable fisheries of that region.
They explained the history of mussel farming of the region, how they farm mussels, and surrounding problems. They also explained Nehuentue cooperative has produced larger Choros Maltones in Chile, with the amount of farming reaching 400 tons per year.
Professor Gojobori explained that our project is intended to develop a forecast system of harmful algal bloom, and hence will contribute greatly to peoples of mussel farming. Professor Imai introduced the system of oyster farming in Japan and measures against harmful algal blooms. He also suggested effective usage of water surfaces with consideration of Nehuentue geography.
We are willing to disseminate issues related to our project to local fisheries and fishing people. The meeting was supported and organized with the aid of Institute of Agriculture and Institute of Local and Regional Development of University of La Frontera.