German Research Vessel METEOR Studies Red Tide in Southern Chile

A month‑long scientific expedition aboard the German research vessel METEOR sailed from the Magallanes region to Biobío in southern Chile, collecting water and sediment samples to investigate harmful algal blooms (HAB), commonly known as red tide. The study focuses on the 2016 event that caused massive salmon mortality, paralytic shellfish poisoning and prolonged fishing bans in the Pacific Ocean.

The project, led by Dr. Bernd Krock of the Alfred Wegener Institute and partnered with Chilean institutions such as COPAS Coastal, i~mar, CIEP and IFOP, examined phycotoxins, phytoplankton species, organic matter and oceanographic conditions. Although no active blooms were observed during the cruise, the absence allowed researchers to document a wide diversity of toxic species, including several not previously reported for Patagonian waters. Findings aim to clarify whether HABs are driven by local or external factors, map the geographic distribution of toxin‑producing species, and improve models for predicting future events.