Master in Environment and Biosafety in Aquaculture UACh received a new graduate

The marine biologist Gladys Riverasuccessfully completed his studies in the Master’s program in Environment and Biosafety in Aquaculture (MABA) of the Universidad Austral de Chile at the Puerto Montt Headquarters.

The professional presented the research entitled “Survey of gaps in the taxonomic identification of species of the benthic macrofauna and its implications in the estimation of the AMBI biotic index”, which sought to evaluate gaps for the taxonomic identification at the species level in the environmental reports of salmonid farming centers and their implications in the estimation of the AMBI2 index.

The specific objectives, meanwhile, focused on:

1. Characterize the gaps for taxonomic identification at the species level in the environmental reports (INFAs) of salmon farming centers, available between the years 2012-2019.

2. Evaluate the implications of the level of taxonomic identification for the calculation of the AMBI index.

3. Compare the result of the environmental qualification obtained from the INFAs and the AMBI.

As indicated by the UACh professional, in this work an analysis of environmental information was carried out, specifically the identification of macrofauna, carried out by analysis entities certified by SERNAPESCA.

Some of the elements evaluated were gaps related to the level of identification and taxonomic knowledge of the benthic macrofauna, which showed that in Chile it is still not feasible to estimate AMBI with the level of taxonomic identification that is currently carried out.

In the same way, and with regard to the contribution of said investigation to the industry, the new Magister UACh indicated that this work will contribute to a more rigorous control of. productive activity, since an attempt will be made to incorporate a biotic index such as AMBI into the current environmental evaluation, which uses benthic macrofauna as environmental indicators, whose main characteristic is to respond to any change in the environment.

“Incorporating AMBI would respond to the need to bring this national productive activity up to international standards, complying with the current requirements associated with environmental assessment.Rivera said.

Finally, the marine biologist delivered a message regarding her time at the UACh Master’s in Environment and Biosafety in Aquaculture, where she highlighted that the MABA has a highly trained teaching team to deliver knowledge with different approaches, from knowing the Legislation that regulates activity in Chile to the different effects it can have in the most sensitive areas where it is carried out.

“They gave us the tools and knowledge to investigate and work in order to guide it in being an activity that can be sustainable over time and sustainable with the environment. I am very grateful for the knowledge acquired, the stage lived and the people I know. It was a self-imposed challenge that I am happy to have finished”hill.