Photo taken by Kristille Diane Espinosa and Lordelie Robles
FishDive Project Invited as Resource Persons in Monthly Fish Talk Organized by USM Kabacan
Written by FishDive Project
Uploaded on April 28, 2023
KABACAN, NORTH COTABATO - Dr. Cleto L. Nañola, Jr. and Ms. Maybelle A. Fortaleza of CRREST Laboratory served as the resource persons for the monthly seminar series organized by the University of Southern Mindanao Fisheries Society last 28 April 2023. Dr. Nañola discussed the importance of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the country as means of managing our coastal and marine resources, while Ms. Fortaleza presented what is currently known about the marine fish diversity in Davao Gulf. Both presentations include data from the research projects conducted by CRREST Laboratory in Mindanao, particularly in Davao Gulf. The seminar was attended by 150 BS Fisheries students and faculty members.
We are grateful to the College of Agriculture Dean Dr. Julius Jerome Ele, Dr. Mary Joy Cañolas, Ma’am Leonila Papalid, and Sir Stephen Dave Dupo for the warm welcome and fruitful discussion in USM Kabacan. Both universities will also enter a Memorandum of Understanding focused on training and capacity building activities for the BS Fisheries faculty and students through the DOST-funded ABRAHAM: FishDive Project.
Other Articles
CSU & MABIDA: Forging Marine Biodiversity Collaboration
CSU and ABRAHAM Project 2 MABIDA met for the first time for a possible collaboration. BUTUAN CITY - Researchers from the ABRAHAM Program conducted a courtesy visit to Caraga State University (CSU) in Butuan City on 09 September 2022 to present the executive brief of the program. The team, represented by Mr. Leo Manuel B. Estaña, Project Leader of MABIDA, and researchers Kevin L. Labrador from FishDive, Norjan Charls M. Cabanalan, Geomarie Anne S. Paredes, Ralph Raleigh P. Dalig, and Maria Joselle V. Luzon from MABIDA, were welcomed by Dr. Romell A. Seronay, Research and Extension Coordinator Chief of CSU, together with the faculty and staff of the Biology Department. Dr. Seronay started the meeting with a brief introduction of the representatives of CSU and a presentation of the current research thrusts of CSU's Center for Research in Environmental Management and Eco-Governance (CRÈME). Objectives and outputs of the program were presented, including the database and website being continuously updated. They also discussed potential areas for collaboration. MABIDA aims to create a comprehensive database on Philippine reef fishes specifically for the regions under the Celebes Sea and part of the Sulu Sea. CSU, one of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Mindanao interested in marine biodiversity and resource management, is highly invited and encouraged to populate the database and conduct collaborative scientific activities.
FishDive Project Conducts Courtesy Visit to Regional BFAR Offices in Koronadal and General Santos
The research team of FishDive Project conducted a courtesy visit to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region XII Office in Koronadal City and in BFAR XII Regional Fisheries Laboratory in General Santos City to introduce and discuss the training and capacity building activities offered through the ABRAHAM-FishDive Project. Fishing Regulations Officer II Paul Benedict Gepte welcomed the research team and expressed their interest in the training modules presented. The research team also visited the BFAR XII Regional Fisheries Laboratory in General Santos City where the lab facilities are stationed. Ma’am Eugene Gay Jamora, the Laboratory Manager of BFAR XII RFL received copies of the training modules and gave an overview of the facilities and services they currently offer. The BFAR XII RFL expressed their interest in conducting training on DNA barcoding, which the CRREST Laboratory has been offering since 2019. Earlier this month, Dr. Cleto L. Nañola, Jr. and Assistant Regional Director Omar M. Sabal, RFT met at the 5th PAMB-SBPS Executive Committee Meeting where the latter expressed his interest in the same training modules presented to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Protected Area Management Office of the Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape (DENR-PAMO-SBPS). The CRREST Laboratory through the #FishDiveProject is looking forward to working with the government agencies in Region 12 to contribute to the increase in scientific capability, particularly in the interest of supporting the implementation of the Fisheries Management Area 3.
