The University of the Philippines Visayas College of Arts and Sciences (UPV CAS), together with its partners, launched various initiatives for small-scale fisheries (SSF) during a program held at the Little Theatre, UPV Iloilo City campus, on Nov. 21.
Launched during the program were the Too-Big-To-Ignore (TBTI) Philippines, the Sixth International Conference for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (ICFAS 6) and Asian Fisheries Social Science Research Network Forum One (AFSSRN F1) Proceeding, and the sneak peek video of the TBTI book on SSF.
The TBTI is a research network and knowledge mobilization partnership that would focus on addressing issues and concerns affecting the viability and sustainability of SSF in the Philippines.
According to CAS Dean Dr. Alice Joan Ferrer, TBTI Philippines Project Leader, there is a large number of small-scale fishers “and they are very important because they contribute to our food and nutrition security, and that is why they should not be ignored.”
“There is a need to organize a consortium for SSF research and development to share resources, expertise, and facilities and develop information that would guide policies and decision-making on small scale fisheries in the Philippines,” she said
A total of 32 State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) from various parts of the country are part of the consortium. Some were able to attend physically, while others attended via Zoom.
The SUC presidents, chancellors, heads, and representatives signed the memorandum of agreement during the program.
Meanwhile, the proceeding of the ICFAS 6 and AFSSRN F1 joint international conference conducted online on Nov. 24-26, 2021, composed of 634 participants from various countries, was also launched.
The proceeding is a 900-plus-page book composed of presentations, messages, regular poster sessions, oral sessions, special sessions, and transcripts, among others, of last year’s forum with the theme “The Science and Art of Fisheries and Aquaculture: Life Above and Below Waters to highlight the synergy between science and arts and the transdisciplinary in fisheries and aquaculture.”
The joint international conference was hosted by the UPV CAS in partnership with the AFSSRN, a section of the Asian Fisheries Society.
Ferrer is the chair of the International Organizing Committee of ICFAS 6 and the AFSSRN F1; while Prof. Nilo Araneta, CAS Associate Dean, is the chair of Virtual Committee of the said networks.
Lastly, the sneak peek video for the TBTI Philippines book “Portrait of Small-Scale Fishers in the Philippines” was shown.
The book is TBTI’s means of showing appreciation to small-scale fishers in the Philippines and highlighting their contributions to society. The book is set to be released on June 2023.
For his part, UPV Chancellor Clement Camposano, said “what we are doing is actually important because we are here to help a marginalized sector of our economy.”
“And it is very critical, very strategic sector, because we are an archipelagic nation,” he added.
UPV officials who were present during the three-part program were Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension Dr. Harold Monteclaro, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Philip Ian Padilla, Vice Chancellor for Administration Prof. John Lorenz Belanio, School of Technology Dean Dr. Ramer Bautista, and College of Management Dean Prof. Christopher Honorario. (Carlson B. Alelis/IPO)
