MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Academic accord to promote coastal fisheries in P. Arenas

Universidad del Mar (University of the Sea), a private institution from Punta Arenas inaugurated this week its new facilities plus the signing of an academic cooperation agreement with Chile's Fisheries Department to promote the industry in Magallanes, particularly small scale undertakings.

The new four-story building in downtown Punta Arenas, in the shape of a lighthouse, includes the University's offices but most of the space is dedicated to labs and other research facilities. The agreement was signed by the School's dean Hector Zuñiga and the Chilean Deputy Secretary of Fisheries Jorge Chocair. According to the terms of the accord the Chilean Fisheries Department will collaborate with lecturers, exchange of information, research and development, joint projects and financial support for preparing fishing experts from the coastal and small fishing industries. "We're committed to cooperate in developing academic and research links which will be useful both for government and the private sector", said Mr. Chocair. "This is a historic event for Magallanes because it will boost the social, economic, cultural and environmental development of the region", underlined Dean Zuñiga. Chocair opened a round of conferences at the University's main cloister with a lecture on "University and development in the context of promoting small and medium sized fishing undertakings in Chile's austral zone". The Chilean government is committed to promote coastal fisheries and small and medium scale undertakings with programs associated to aquaculture, the efficient management of fisheries, benthonic resources, the transfer of technology and diversifying sea food extraction opportunities.