Red sea squirt (Pyura chilensis) is a solitary ascidian found in the southeast Pacific coast, from central Peru to southern Chile (Haye and Muñoz-Herrera 2013). The stock structure is not fully known, however a research fishery project is underway to improve the knowledge of Red sea squirt larval dispersal and populations’ connectivity throughout the Chilean coast (MEFT 2015). It forms dense associations called "Pyura benches" on submareal areas in a 5 to 10m depth range.

It is an economically important species being commercially exploited along the coast of Chile and presents a declining trend on artisanal fishing landings since the year of 1999.