{"id":2158,"date":"2026-07-21T20:46:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T20:46:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/imo.udec.cl\/?page_id=2158"},"modified":"2026-07-28T18:18:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T18:18:45","slug":"marea-roja","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/imo.udec.cl\/en\/expediciones-y-observatorio\/expediciones-nacionales\/marea-roja\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Tide"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\t\t\t
\n \t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Red Tide<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

General Description and Scientific Significance<\/b><\/p>

The Red Tide Expedition was conducted between 25 and 31 May 2016 aboard the oceanographic research vessel AGS-61 Cabo de Hornos, as part of the scientific response coordinated by the Government of Chile to investigate the exceptional Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) event that affected the Los Lagos and Los R\u00edos regions during 2016. The campaign brought together a multidisciplinary team of 14 scientists, along with representatives of artisanal fishing communities who participated as observers during the sampling process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The expedition covered approximately 769 nautical miles, carrying out 15 oceanographic stations from the western coast of Chilo\u00e9 to the Gulf of Corcovado, Reloncav\u00ed Sound, and the offshore area where dead salmon had been dumped weeks earlier. At each station, seawater, sediment, and marine organism samples were collected to characterize the physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the system. Scientific diving operations were also conducted for the collection of benthic specimens at selected sites.<\/span><\/p>

One of the main objectives was to determine the oceanographic and environmental factors associated with the development of the algal bloom and to scientifically assess the possible relationship between the salmon disposal event and the red tide crisis. The results obtained during the expedition, complemented by subsequent laboratory analyses and oceanographic modelling, concluded that the salmon disposal was not the cause of the Harmful Algal Bloom event, providing scientific evidence to understand one of the largest red tide episodes recorded in southern Chile.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The participation of the Millennium Institute of Oceanography (IMO) in the Red Tide Expedition represented one of the Institute\u2019s first contributions to addressing a nationally relevant environmental issue.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Scientific Objectives<\/b><\/p>