The National Consortium for Small-Scale Fisheries Research and Development or Too-Big-To-Ignore (TBTI) Philippines was represented in the Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) Regional Symposium for Asia-Pacific from April 9-12, 2024 in Shimizu, Shizuoka, Japan. The theme of the symposium was “Bright Spots ~ Hope Spots.”
Prof. Alice Joan Ferrer, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), Executive Director of TBTI Philippines, and Symposium Organizing Committee Member gave two presentations. Under session 1, Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines, Prof. Ferrer shared the work of the country on the National Plan of Action (NPOA) in the Philippines on behalf of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Philippines. She is also one of the members of the National Technical Working Group (TWG) for the Development of the NPOA for SSF in the country.
Prof. Ferrer’s second presentation under Session 4, Panel Presentation and Roundtable Discussion – “Sharing Bright Spots & Hope Spots & Highlights from TBTI Country Hubs,” was about TBTI Philippines, its 2023 accomplishments and 2024 plans.
Ms. Pearl Aljean Santacera, project assistant of TBTI Philippines, presented the TBTI Philippines’ first SSF book titled, “Portrait of Small-Scale Fisheries in the Philippines” on Session 2: Gender/Wellbeing/Livelihoods. The e-book contains stories about 83 fishers in 78 stories, written and prepared by 125 contributors and published by TBTI Global as part of their TBTI Global Book Series - a publication series that highlights why we need to pay close attention to small-scale fisheries.
Ms. Jem Celyne Ferrer, a BS Fisheries student from the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS), presented the “Visibility of small-scale fishers in online stories of local media outlets in Western Visayas, Philippines.” Ms. Ferrer shared the extent to which local online media outlets have covered SSF and how they are portrayed in online media stories.
Faculty and REPS from CFOS-Institute of Fisheries Policy and Development Studies and Regional Research Center also presented their research finding on “Fishers’ migration and its impact on socio-cultural identity and small-scale fisheries management in Southwest Panay, Philippines” by Dr. Liberty N. Espectato; “Achieving sustainable fishing practices: The importance of small-scale fishers in the implementation of fisheries laws and policies in Southern Iloilo, Philippines” by Ms. Genna D. Serofia; “Bivalve aquaculture in the Philippines: The case of small-scale mussel farmers’ organizations in promoting sustainable and responsible fisheries” by Ms. Ruby Napata; “Small-scale sardine fisheries: The case of small island fishing community in Northern Iloilo, Philippines” by Mr. Ariel S. Sefi; and “Understanding small-scale fisheries and ecotourism management in Barangay Culajao, Roxas City, Capiz, Philippines” by Mr. Jose Marie Eslopor.
Dr. Barby Badayos-Jover and Prof. Elmer Jover, members of the faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences also shared their research findings on “The well-being narratives of small and remote island fishing communities in the COVID-19 pandemic: Between challenges and opportunities.”
A team from the Department of Agriculture-National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI), led by Executive Director Dr. Lilian Garcia and Scientist I Dr. Maria Theresa Mutia, presented their research findings on “Towards a sustainable tawilis fishery in Lake Taal, Philippines.”
Aside from the panel sessions, the participants had a field trip to the Yui Fisheries Cooperative Association (FCA) in Yui fishing community and the Sakura shrimp sun-drying place.
Fishers, community groups, practitioners, researchers, students, and members of government, non-government, and inter-governmental organizations working for small-scale fisheries in the region shared their stories and experiences about what has been done to SSF in the Asia-Pacific region, discussed what remains to be done, and worked together to plan coordinated regional efforts to support them. What was presented and discussed during the regional symposium will be brought forward for further discussion at the 5th 4th World Small-Scale Fisheries Congress (5WSFC) in 2026.
The symposium was hosted by TBTI Japan, in partnership with Tokai University and other partners, and with support from TBTI Global. The speakers and participants were from various countries such as Bangladesh, Canada, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand.
