Expedition to Bahía Inútil: discovering its unknown ecological value

Led by Ingrid Espinoza, Conservation Director of Rewilding Chile, we conducted a new expedition in the Strait of Magellan with a team of marine biologists and photographers to register the biodiversity of Bahía Inútil (useless bay in English), which is far from worthless. Join us in this new conservation adventure in the Patagonian Sea!

At the southern tip of the continent, where the Pacific, Atlantic, and Antartic oceans meet, lies the Strait of Magellan. The union of these waters transforms this place into an oasis of marine life, from krill, squat lobster, fish, squid, and stingrays to large mammals such as sea lions, dolphins, and whales. A great trophic chain that makes this beautiful web of life vibrant!

Bahía Inútil: A new marine conservation adventure

From the southern tip of the Americas, near Punta Arenas, we crossed the Strait of Magellan with Captain Hugo Cárdenas in his ship, Huracán. Our mission: to reach Bahía Inútil, a large inlet of difficult access located west of Tierra del Fuego island. We had been trying to explore it for several years but without success. Its strong winds make it practically impossible to access it. What would we find? We were not sure, but we were very curious to find out and learn about its biodiversity!

Its difficult access led it to be considered useless; however, Bahía Inútil has become a refuge for various species and is even home to a new colony of king penguins. “One of the indicators of its ecological value was the establishment of the king penguin colony there. The fact they decided to stay meant this area offered them food. Although penguins nest on land, they feed in the sea, so this new colony was an excellent sign,” says Ingrid Espinoza, Director of Conservation at Rewilding Chile.

Come on board and join us in exploring Bahía Inútil to unveil its hidden beauty!

Learning about an ecosystem to protect it: the fundamental role of expeditions

Just as each place has its history, each ecosystem has its own food web. Every species has a role to play in the ocean’s well-being and health. It’s all interconnected, so knowing who is part of the ecosystem is essential! However, 95% of the oceans remain unexplored, according to the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS).

After years of working to protect and restore terrestrial ecosystems along the Route of Parks of Patagonia, at Rewilding Chile, the legacy of Tompkins Conservation, we began our marine conservation program. Through the expeditions, we are gathering ecological information to document and monitor the Patagonian Sea’s biodiversity, aiming to create a network of marine parks that protect the ecosystems effectively and equitably.