CRREST Soft-Launches Book on Reef Fish Biology and Hosts Signing of MOA for Marine Biodiversity Database Project | News Article | Marine Biodiversity Database Project

CRREST Soft-Launches Book on Reef Fish Biology and Hosts Signing of MOA for Marine Biodiversity Database Project

Written by Norjan Charls M. Cabanalan
Uploaded on Feb. 24, 2023

The UP Mindanao Office of Research, in partnership with the Coral Reef Resiliency and Ecology Studies (CRREST) Laboratory, organized a successful afternoon of discussions on reef fish diversity in the Philippines. The event was held on February 24, 2023, and attended by students, partner institutions, and government agencies in Mindanao. Led by renowned experts in the field, the discussions covered the historical records, status, and future directions of reef fish diversity in the Philippines.

As an initiative towards collaboration, the event also featured a soft launching of the book titled "Data Collection and Analyses for Reef Fish Biology." Edited by CRREST researcher Maybelle A. Fortaleza and laboratory head Dr. Cleto L. Nañola, Jr., the book aims to guide beginners in conducting independent research and streamline protocols and methods in studying reef fish biology.

The event also marked a significant milestone for the Marine Biodiversity Database (MABIDA) Project. The project held a ceremonial memorandum of agreement signing with partner higher education institutions during the event, signifying the commitment of partner institutions to support the project and collaborate in its implementation. The MABIDA Project aims to create a comprehensive database of marine biodiversity in the Philippines, providing critical information for conservation and management efforts. The event was a significant step towards the development of collaborative research endeavors and knowledge transfer in the region, and the organizers hope to continue their efforts in acquiring new information and conducting further research on reef fish diversity and marine biodiversity in the Philippines.

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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.

JRMSU, ZSCMST completes three-day training on Fish DNA Barcoding

Faculty members from Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRMSU) and Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST) completed their three-day training on Fish DNA Barcoding last 19 August 2022. The activity aims to provide benchmarking on the DNA barcoding pipeline — covering concepts and applications to actual laboratory work. The three-day training was led by Mr. Kevin Labrador, University Researcher of the FishDive Project and assisted by Mr. Christian Labrador and Ms. April Mae Numeron of the Philippine Genome Center Mindanao. The participants also had the opportunity to view the facilities of PGC Min. We thank our training participants, Dr. Oliver Tito, Ms. Kathleen Dalope, and Ms. Aldette Dela Cruz of ZSCMST and Dr. Junnasir Sakilan and Dr. Jhoan Rhea Pizon of JRMSU, for their hard work and willingness to conduct more training and capacity building activities in their respective institutions. UP Mindanao and ZSCMST will also enter into a Memorandum of Understanding for scientific cooperation through the ABRAHAM FishDive Project.

MSU Gensan and MABIDA: Exploring Collaborative Frontiers in Marine Biodiversity Research

MSU Gensan and ABRAHAM Project 2 MABIDA looked forward to a collaboration. GENERAL SANTOS CITY - Representatives from the ABRAHAM Program visited the Mindanao State University - General Santos City last 01 August 2022 to present the Program Executive Brief. The team, represented by Dr. Cleto L. Nañola, Jr., Program Leader of ABRAHAM, Mr. Leo Manuel Estaña, Project Leader of MABIDA, and researchers Maybelle A. Fortaleza (FishDive), Joemarie J. Lanutan (FishDive), Norjan Charls M. Cabanalan (MABIDA), Geomarie Anne S. Paredes (MABIDA), Ralph Raleigh P. Dalig (MABIDA), and Maria Joselle V. Luzon (MABIDA) were welcomed by Dr. Edna P. Guevarra, Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension of MSU-GSC, together with her researchers and staff. The highlights of the meeting were the status of reef fishes on Sarangani Bay, the presentation of the two project components of the Program, and the invitation for scientific collaboration. MABIDA, or Marine Biodiversity Database, aims to create a comprehensive database on Philippine reef fishes, specifically for the regions under the Celebes Sea and part of the Sulu Sea. MSU-Gensan, one of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Mindanao interested in marine biodiversity and resource management, would be a significant addition to the pool of local experts managing and contributing to the database.

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