During the southern summer of 2020, large phytoplankton blooms were detected using satellite technology in Chile (western Patagonia), where intensive salmonid aquaculture is carried out. Some harvesting sites recorded massive fish mortalities, which were associated with the presence of the dinoflagellate species Cochlodinium sp. The bloom included other phytoplankton species, as Lepidodinium chlorophorum, which persistently changed the colour of the ocean to green. These blooms coincided with the government-managed emergency lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Local in situ sampling was slowed down. However, imagery from the Copernicus programme allowed operational monitoring. This study shows the benefits of both Sentinel-3 and Sentinel-2 satellites in terms of their spectral, spatial and temporal capabilities for improved algal bloom monitoring. These novel tools, which can foster optimal decision-making, are available for delivering early alerts in situations of natural catastrophes and blockages, such as those occurred during the global COVID-19 lockdown.

We evaluated the distribution and growth of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in the inland sea of southern Chile, where the world's largest foodborne gastroenteritis outbreak by the pandemic strain O3:K6 occurred in 2005. Intertidal samples of Mytilus chilensis and Venus antiqua were collected around port towns between 41°28'S and 43°07'S, during April to May 2011 and January to March 2012. We used most probable number real-time polymerase chain reaction (MPN-PCR) for enumeration of the tlh, tdh, and trh genes in freshly harvested bivalves and after a controlled postharvest temperature abuse. Pathogenic markers (tdh+ or trh+) were not detected. Total V. parahaemolyticus (tlh+) in freshly harvested samples reached up to 0.38 and 3.66 log MPN/g in 2011 and 2012, respectively, with values close to or above 3 log MPN/g only near Puerto Montt (41°28'S, 72°55'W). Enrichments by temperature abuse (>2 log MPN/g) occurred mainly in the same zone, regardless of the year, suggesting that both natural or anthropogenic exposure to high temperatures were more critical. Lower salinity and higher sea surface temperature in Reloncaví Sound and Reloncaví Estuary were consistent with our observations and allowed confirmation of the existence of a high-risk zone near Puerto Montt. Based on the results, a strategy focused on risk management inside this defined hazard zone is recommended.

No abstract

Human mobilization during the COVID-19 lockdown has been reduced in many areas of the world. Maritime navigation has been affected in strategic connections between some regions in Patagonia, at the southern end of South America. The purpose of this research is to describe this interruption of navigation using satellite synthetic aperture radar data. For this goal, three locations are observed using geoinformatic techniques and high-resolution satellite data from the Sentinel-1 satellites of the European Commission’s Copernicus programme. The spatial information is analyzed using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform as a global geographical information system and the EO Browser tool, integrated with several satellite data. The results demonstrate that the total maritime traffic activity in the three geographical hotspots selected along western Patagonia, the Chacao Channel, crossing of the Reloncavi Fjord and the Strait of Magellan was totally interrupted during April–May 2020. This fact has relevant repercussions for the population living in isolated areas, such as many places in Patagonia, including Tierra del Fuego. The study also demonstrates the relevance of satellite radar observations in coastal areas with severe cloud cover, such as the one evaluated here.