By Jhoanna Faye Jacinto, STRATCOM Correspondent

Prof. Ernesto Del Rosario, Jr., OIC-Dean of the College of Aquatic Sciences and Applied Technology (CASAT) at Mariano Marcos State University, participated in a series of meetings and training sessions at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) in Japan from June 23 to July 1, 2025.

The visit, in preparation for a major international research collaboration, focused on planning and initial coordination for the upcoming research project titled “Freshwater and Estuarine Fish Fauna of the Philippines: Toward Elucidating the Larval Dispersal Mechanism of Diadromous Fish Along the Kuroshio Current.”

The project aims to study how larval fish from the Philippines are carried by ocean currents to Taiwan and Japan, improving knowledge of migration patterns and their effects on biodiversity conservation, as well as comparing their fish populations. 

Diadromous fish—those migrating between freshwater and saltwater—are vital to aquatic ecosystems and food security, making the study’s findings crucial for regional fisheries and conservation policies.

Prof. Del Rosario’s participation at OIST, under the guidance of Dr. Ken Maeda, Staff Scientist of OIST’s Marine Eco-Evo-Devo Unit, included discussions on sampling protocols, field research strategies, and international coordination efforts. The project is funded by the Nagao Natural Environment Foundation, a Japanese organization supporting environmental conservation and research.

The training also followed the November 2024 visit of Dr. Maeda and Dr. Midori Iida of Hokkaido University to MMSU, where they laid the groundwork for the partnership and selected CASAT as one of three Luzon-based collaborators. Alongside MMSU, Cagayan State University, and Western Philippines University will participate in this multi-institutional initiative.

“This collaboration is an opportunity for MMSU to contribute to global research while deepening our understanding of species important to local ecosystems and communities,” said Prof. Del Rosario.

The project also receives support from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, attracting academic, government, and international backing.