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Headlines: Puerto Madryn is Chilean; Sea Sciences Congreso.

Puerto Madryn is Chilean

Thousands of Chileans are taking advantage this summer of the favourable exchange rate and vacationing in Argentina and Uruguay.

Similarly in southern Chile, Magallanes residents with their strong Chilean pesos are crossing the border and heading for Puerto Madryn in Argentina where the city has been virtually taken over by visitors from Punta Arenas.

According to Chilean Migration officials in Monte Aymond, the main border pass, in the first three weeks of this year over 9,000 Magallanes residents have crossed and in Punta Arenas the demand for Argentine pesos is particularly strong.

In Puerto Madryn, Herman Müller head of the Tourist Board described the current season as "excellent, beyond our most optimistic expectations".

Mr. Müller added that hotel occupancy averages 86%, campings and motels 85%, hostels 95%, and "until the end of January the number of houses available for renting is almost nil. Chileans come along with their families and prefer to rent houses close to the beaches".

Average hotel occupancy has also increased from 4 days to 6,5 days, indicated Mr. Müller.

"You can say we have been overwhelmed, but we are also surprised since the visitors to our web (www.madryn.gov.ar) that between December 16-31 averaged 1.627, in the first fortnight of January jumped to 5,680", said Mr. Müller.

"Our task now is to ensure tourists leave satisfied and willing to come again, even when conditions may not be as favourable as this season".

Sea Sciences congreso

Next May Punta Arenas will be hosting the Sea Sciences congress organized by the Chilean Society of Sea Sciences with the support of the Magallanes University.

President Eleuterio Yañez of the Society of Sea Sciences and Professor at the University of Valparaíso said the congress will convene professors, scientists, students and overseas lectures with the purpose of addressing issues regarding fisheries, aquaculture, marine biology, oceans, but "we're particularly interested in the participation of the private sector since over-fishing and unlimited exploitation of marine resources has become both a Chilean and a world concern".

Mr. Yáñez who was present at the recent "Global change" forum held in Punta Arenas added that he was satisfied with the recent Chilean legislation regarding fisheries, "although it's not the ideal, at leas it contemplates conservation and those issues which us scientists have been fighting for so long. We must now help with the management of fisheries giving all our scientific input".

The Sea Sciences is an annual event and this is the first time it will be held in Punta Arenas