“Great.” “Fun.” “Enjoyable.”
This was how this year’s batch of Japanese fisheries graduate students described their training experience at the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, UP Visayas (UPV-CFOS) recently.
Three first year M.Sc. in Fisheries students from the Kagoshima University Faculty of Fisheries (KUFF) participated in the Training on Tropical Fisheries that CFOS conducted on July 16-27, 2024.
The students namely, Chiyuki Zemba, Misaki Yasunaga, and, Akari Nishimura, expressed their appreciation for attending the 10-day training for academic and cultural exchange. The training provided an opportunity for the exchange students to learn more about UPV and the Philippines, particularly, tropical fisheries and culture.
At the closing ceremony held on July 24, 2024 at the UPV Iloilo City campus, the students expressed how much they enjoyed the learning experience.
“It was great,” said Zemba, the most vocal participant about his apprehension of coming over to the country for the first time. “It was meaningful to learn about the Philippine fishing and aquaculture industry.” He added that the training greatly increased his knowledge about fisheries.
Yasunaga and Nishimura likewise found the training enjoyable and engaging. The students grew to like Filipino dishes and enjoyed riding in the public utility jeepney, which for them was thrilling and adventurous.
They were thankful for the assistance provided by the CFOS that resolved their concerns and made their experience pleasant and memorable.
The training course is part of the international linkage program (ILP), a collaboration between seven member schools in the Southeast Asian region that include UP Visayas, through CFOS, and Japan that implements the internationalized post-graduate program on tropical fisheries.
The training aims to give the participants an overview of the current status of fisheries and aquaculture in the Philippines.
They were given the following lectures: Post-Harvest Fisheries in the Philippines by Prof. Encarnacion Emilia S. Yap; Political, Social, Economic Situation, Science, and Education in the Philippines by Prof. Dr. Rodelio Subade; Aquaculture in the Philippines by Prof. Dr. Rex Ferdinand M. Traifalgar; Capture Fisheries in the Philippines by Prof. Dr. Nathaniel C. Añasco; and Fish Marketing in the Philippines by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Reynold Tan.
They conducted and presented the results of their mini-research on seaweed, fish, and Japanese marine products available in Philippine market including their utilization, costs, and compared with those in Japan.
Selected CFOS graduate students and training staff accompanied the participants for a field visit to Taklong Island Natural Reserve of UPV and the Igang Marine Station of SEAFDEC-AQD in the Province of Guimaras; the SEAFDEC-AQD main office in Tigbauan, Iloilo; Iloilo Fish Port; UPV main campus in Miagao, Iloilo as well as various public markets, restaurants, and supermarkets in Iloilo City.
Moreover, Prof. Marie Frances J. Nievales, Chairperson of the Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences and Head of the UPV Marine Biological Station, gave a lecture in the station on the initiatives of the university to support and promote biodiversity conservation and integrated coastal management (ICM) in Guimaras.
Assoc. Prof. Munechika Ishizaki of KUFF acknowledged gratitude for the 18-year partnership between UPV-CFOS and KUFF, which has trained over 250 Japanese students since its inception in 2007, the reason why he wished to continue the program for their students.
Prof. Yap, CFOS faculty member and Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension; Asst. Prof. Dr. Farisal Ungkakay-Bagsit, also a CFOS faculty member and Vice Chancellor for Administration; and CFOS college secretary Asst. Prof. Lhumen A. Tejano addressed the student participants.