The University of the Philippines (UP) and the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), through the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS), successfully hosted the 14th International Fisheries Symposium (IFS 2026) at the Iloilo Convention Center from October 12–15, 2026.
As the flagship annual gathering of the ASEAN Fisheries Education Network (ASEAN-FEN), this year’s symposium gathered 535 researchers, policymakers, educators, students, and industry stakeholders from 16 countries to advance regional collaboration and food security, with the theme “One Blue ASEAN Fisheries for the Future.”
Co-organized with the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) and the UP Office of International Linkages, IFS 2026 served as a premier regional platform for advancing aquatic sciences, accelerating technological innovation, and strengthening collaborative networks across Southeast Asia and global partner institutions.
UPV-CFOS hosts 14th International Fisheries Symposium (IFS 2026), driving regional innovation for One Blue ASEAN
The University of the Philippines (UP) and the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), through the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS), successfully hosted the 14th International Fisheries Symposium (IFS 2026) at the Iloilo Convention Center from October 12–15, 2026.
As the flagship annual gathering of the ASEAN Fisheries Education Network (ASEAN-FEN), this year’s symposium gathered 535 researchers, policymakers, educators, students, and industry stakeholders from 16 countries to advance regional collaboration and food security, with the theme “One Blue ASEAN Fisheries for the Future.”
Co-organized with the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) and the UP Office of International Linkages, IFS 2026 served as a premier regional platform for advancing aquatic sciences, accelerating technological innovation, and strengthening collaborative networks across Southeast Asia and global partner institutions.
The symposium opened with welcome remarks from UP President Angelo A. Jimenez (via recorded message), UPV Chancellor Clement C. Camposano, and ASEAN-FEN President Prof. Ir. Mochammad Amin Aalmasjah, M.Si., PhD., highlighting regional stewardship and sustainable blue economy governance.
Distinguished keynote addresses were delivered by Hon. Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr., Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Philippines and Dr. Patrick Sorgeloos, Emeritus Professor at Ghent University, Belgium.
In a message delivered on his behalf by DA-BFAR Assistant Director for Administrative Services Zaldy P. Perez, the DA chief emphasized that science and policy must deliver tangible benefits to coastal communities and consumers alike. Sorgeloos, on the other hand, shared his perspectives on global scientific cooperation and transformative aquaculture practices.
One of the highlights during the opening ceremony was the awarding of 2026 ASEAN-FEN Young Scientist Awards, a component of the IFS that recognizes and acknowledges young scientists from Southeast Asia who have made major contributions to fisheries and aquaculture.
ASEAN-FEN President Prof. Aalmasjah and UPV Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension and Prof. Encarnacion Emilia S. Yap and overall chair of the search presented the awards.
Dr. Muhamad Naimullah of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (Malaysia) was honored as the 2026 ASEAN-FEN Outstanding Young Fisheries Scientist, while Assoc. Prof. Albaris B. Tahiluddin, PhD, of Mindanao State University – Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (Philippines) was named the 2026 ASEAN-FEN Outstanding Young Aquaculture Scientist.
Further expanding regional academic collaboration, ASEAN-FEN officially welcomed four new member institutions into the network.
• Mindanao State University – Zamboanga Sibugay (Philippines)
• Mindanao State University – Sulu (Philippines)
• Mindanao State University – General Santos City (Philippines)
• Singapore Institute of Technology (Singapore)
The four-day symposium comprised plenary sessions, parallel oral and poster presentations, and specialized break-out sessions across six core themes:
• Fisheries Resource, Biodiversity, and Ecosystems Health (FISHECO)
• Aquaculture Innovation and Technology (AQUATECH)
• Fisheries Post-Harvest and Technology (FISHPOST)
• Fisheries Governance and Policy (FISHGOV)
• Fisheries Resilience (FISHRES)
• Emerging Methods, Data Science, and Digital Transformation (EMERGE)
Plenary presentations featured global experts including Prof. Dr. Laura T. David (UP Marine Science Institute, Philippines), Dr. Leila Basti (President-Elect, World Aquaculture Society – Asian Pacific Chapter), Prof. Dr. Yeong Yik Sung (Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Malaysia), Prof. Dr. Han-Ching Wang (National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan), and Prof. Dr. Rosalie Arcala Hall (UP Visayas, Philippines).
Five targeted special sessions focused on key sector developments:
• SEAMEO SEARCA: Promoting Innovation in Circular Aquaculture for Sustainable ASEAN Food Systems- Expert panels from CIRAD, AIT, Can Tho University, and Cambodia’s fisheries sector explored zero-waste systems, scaling, and investment models.
• Zoological Society of London (ZSL): Casting Choices and Anchoring Fisher’s Rights — Addressed Ocean equity, enforcement, and community-led conservation for the Philippine Rise Ocean Conservation Area (PROCA).
• ASEAN-FEN and Universiti Malaysia Sabah: Advancing Disease Control in Aquaculture — Led by Mohammad Tamrin Mohamad Lal (Borneo Marine Research Institute) on biological approaches, probiotics, and postbiotics.
• OCEANA: Coastal Greenbelts — Focused on shoreline protection, biodiversity preservation, and community resilience.
• Fisheries Education Summit- Gathered Philippine fisheries higher education institutions, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) technical panel, and selected ASEAN fisheries deans to align BS Fisheries curricula.
Student research took center stage during the oral and poster presentations. The competition winners include:
Oral Presentation
• AQUATECH: Shu-Wen Cheng (National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan) — “A Novel Plasmid Platform for Gene Silencing Against White Spot Syndrome Virus in Shrimp”
• FISHGOV: Maybelle Fortaleza (UP Los Baños, Philippines) — “Integrating Social Dimensions to Understand Marine Protected Area (MPA) Management Effectiveness Better: The Case of Three MPAs in Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape, Southern Philippines”
• FISHECO: Ellen Rose Torremoro (UP Visayas, Philippines)— “Beyond Fouling: Peering into Life in Pearl Farms”
• EMERGE: Leonilo Endoma, Jr. (National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan) — “Engineered Sagittula stellata E-37 Delivers a VP28-Targeting Nanobody for Passive Protection against WSSV in Shrimp”
• FISHPOST (Co-Winners):
• Karmelie Jane Monaya (UP Visayas, Philippines) — “Valorization of Fish Soluble from Tuna Processing Waste Through Enzymatic Hydrolysis by Papain and Pepsin”
• Karie Mae Tolones (UP Visayas, Philippines) — “Evaluating the Photoprotective Potentials of Optimally Blanched Kappaphycus alvarezii Tissue Extract”
• FISHRES: Camella Ellaga (UP Visayas, Philippines) — “Healthy Seagrass Habitats Sustain Edible Marine Macroinvertebrate Resources and Small-Scale Gleaning Fisheries in Southern Negros, Philippines”
Poster Presentation
• 1st Place: Kassandra Allia dela Viña (UP Visayas, Philippines) — “From Sea to Health: In Vivo Validation of Antihypertensive and Antioxidant Bioactive Peptides from Philippine Mussels”
• 2nd Place: Murungu David Kamau (Hokkaido University, Japan)— “Heavy-ion Beam-Induced Mutant of Pyropia yezoensis Exhibits Growth and Thermotolerance Trade-off with Reproduction”
• 3rd Place: Ralph Andrei Planta (UP Visayas, Philippines)— “Evaluation of Macro- and Microplastic Pollution of Mangrove Roots and Sediments in Nogas Island, Anini-y, Antique”
IFS 2026 was successfully organized under the leadership of CFOS Dean Prof. Dr. Harold Monteclaro as Chair and Prof. Encarnacion Emilia S. Yap as Co-Chair.
The symposium officially concluded with a ceremonial handover to Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) in Brunei, which is set to host the 15th IFS in 2027.
Written by Lenilyn B. Gallos
