Japanese researchers visit MMSU to review joint fisheries study
By Jedd Bryant Boado
Japanese researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), together with faculty members from Mariano Marcos State University - College of Aquatic Sciences and Applied Technology (MMSU-CASAT), paid a courtesy visit to MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr. on February 6, 2026, at the FEM Hall. The visit aimed to review progress on their ongoing collaborative research and discuss prospects for future cooperation in fisheries and aquatic science.
Dr. Ken Maida, Dr. Midori Iida, Dr. Hirozumi Kobayashi, and Dr. Harutaka Hata of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) expressed their appreciation for MMSU’s support for collaborative research initiatives during the meeting. They explained the importance of marine and aquatic science research in strengthening food security. They also expressed their support for MMSU’s research and extension programs aligned with the university’s seven-point SUCCEED agenda.
Their joint study, “Fauna and Life History of Freshwater and Estuarine Fish of the Philippines: Toward Elucidation of the Larval Dispersal Mechanism and Diadromous Fish along the Kuroshio Current,” focuses on the collection, documentation, and assessment of freshwater and estuarine fish species along the Padsan River and its tributaries. The research aims to improve understanding of the life cycles of species such as goby, halfbeak, and rice fish, while also working toward the standardization of research protocols for freshwater fish studies.
The MMSU-CASAT research team was led by Prof. Ernesto Del Rosario Jr., with members Mr. Jeric Reinard Balauro, Mr. Jerry Allado, Mr. Michael Jay Tabuy, Mr. Orlando Malazzab Jr., Mr. Aldrich Alegado, Mr. Allen Argel, and Mr. Jay Linuel Oamerca. The group praised President Manzano’s commitment to aquaculture innovation, citing its potential to boost fish production and improve the livelihoods of local farmers.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to share our research outcomes at the national level so that we can help increase the output of our farmers,” Prof. Balauro said.
In response, President Manzano emphasized that partnerships with international researchers are vital to achieving MMSU’s research objectives and to providing technical support to its stakeholders. He also recognized the Japanese government’s sustained support for scientific research, noting its contribution to community development.
The collaborative research, conducted in partnership with Cagayan State University (CSU), Western Philippines University (WPU), and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region II, is being carried out from February 6 to 10, 2026. The project is fully funded by the Nagao Natural Environment Foundation (NEF).
The Japanese researchers previously visited MMSU in 2024 during the term of then OIC-President Prima Fe R. Franco.
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