Successful Halibut experiment

Monday, January 27th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

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The Fisheries Department of Magallanes University has successfully farmed Canadian Halibut specimens in a pilot project in Bahía Laredo, a few miles away from Punta Arenas.

"What we've shown is that we can dominate the flat fish farming technology and this opens great potential for local aquiculture", indicated Pablo Gallardo, head of the program. Mr. Gallardo revealed that last year the project managed to grow two Halibuts but this season the number jumped to over 50, and "currently we have over 500 from eggs flown in from New Brunswick, plus a few similar "wild" species that breed in Magellan waters". The flat fish project actually begun in 1997 with resources from the Chilean Fund for the Promotion of Science and Technology involving three universities, Arturo Prat, Andrés Bello and Magallanes, plus the Chile Foundation. In 1999 Magallanes University was awarded a specific grant to experiment with Halibut with the purpose of producing juveniles from imported and local eggs. According to Mr. Gallardo there's a growing demand for halibut filet that can reach excellent prices, -- 10 US dollars for each 2/3 kilos specimen--, particularly in North America.

Second language

English is to become the second language in Magallanes Region, an initiative that will be compulsory in schools as soon as the necessary teachers and infrastructure is organized. The regional Education Ministry Office and Magallanes University will coordinate efforts to ensure that the system begins to operate this coming school year in the greatest possible number of Punta Arenas institutions. The decision was taken given the growing importance of tourism for the Magallanes economy and the fact that so many foreigners can be seen visiting Punta Arenas in summer months. "We want to considerably increase the level of English speakers among the local population", said Punta Arenas Mayor Raúl Hein during the official announcement of the foreign language education policy. "We're not asking our people to become proficient in oral and written English simply that they don't feel scared to communicate with foreigners or be able to read and understand basic literature", added Mr. Hein. In the first stage of the program English that is taught in the fifth grade of Punta Arenas Junior schools will be advanced and made compulsory for all first grade beginners. "This means our children will have an additional four years of English", said Mr. Hein. The program will also be directed to specific groups that have direct contact with tourists, such as in retailing, lodging and food, transport and even the local Carabineros. "I'm sure the local media will collaborate with this effort that is so significant for the future of Magallanes and the tourist industry", said Mr. Hein. However Mr. Hein pointed out it was not a policy with a timetable but a learning process that must be permanent and subject to the availability of "funds that will be appropriated as we move along". "It's a matter of starting a systematic and massive campaign to make the English language accessible to the people of Magallanes".

Categories: Falkland Islands.

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