University of the Philippines Visayas Brackishwater Aquaculture Center

𝐔𝐏𝐕𝐅𝐈 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐙𝐒𝐋-𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭

The University of the Philippines Visayas Foundation, Inc. (UPVFI), through the UPV Institute of Aquaculture (UPV IA), officially kicked off the "Recovery of Mangrove Ecosystems for Viable, Inclusive and Vital Enterprises" (REVIVE) project during an inception meeting with Zoological Society of London (ZSL) Philippines held on May 20, 2026, at the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS) Conference Room. Representing UPVFI at the inception were Executive Director Dr. Joy C. Lizada, Finance Officer Ms. Jocelyn T. Genesila, CPA, and the working staff.

REVIVE is a project funded under the Climate and Ocean Adaptation and Sustainable Transition (COAST) program and implemented in partnership with ZSL Philippines, UPV IA, and UPVFI.

During the opening remarks, UPV IA Director and REVIVE project leader, Dr. Victor Marco Emmanuel N. Ferriols welcomed the joint technical and financial teams of the implementing institutions. In his address, Dr. Ferriols highlighted how the project aims to integrate mangrove-friendly design and management into the ponds at Brackishwater Aquaculture Center (BAC) in Leganes, Iloilo, and unlocking significant carbon removal potential. It also hopes to enable and empower local communities and smallholders in Iloilo and Guimaras.

The ZSL Philippines technical team led by Project Manager Mr. Christian Montilijao, Conservation Biologist Mr. Cesar Tabada, and Stakeholder Engagement Officer Mr. John Paul Bainggan also shed light on the operations and methodologies of the project.

While the financial aspect of the project was spearheaded by the ZSL financial team comprising of Central Finance Officer Ms. Ana Mae Mendoza, Finance and Admin Assistant Ms. Maria Thelma Louella Guillamas, and Finance Manager Ms. Agnes Roman, in close coordination with UPVFI Finance Officer Ms. Genesila.

The inception meeting among the implementing institutions ensure that the objectives, timeline, and deliverables of the project are established and aligned. The implementation of the project began last March 16, 2026, and is set to accomplish on September 2027.

❤💚🧡

𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤: 𝙰𝚕𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝙻𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙰𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝙵𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝟷𝟽𝟻 - 𝙸𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚍𝚞𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝙲𝚘𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚌𝚎 𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙵𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝟷𝟽𝟼- 𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢-𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝙲𝚘𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚌𝚎 𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝, 𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙸𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚝𝚞𝚝𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝙵𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝙿𝚘𝚕𝚒𝚌𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙳𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚙𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚂𝚝𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚎𝚜 (𝙸𝙵𝙿𝙳𝚂), 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚐𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝙵𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙾𝚌𝚎𝚊𝚗 𝚂𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚜, 𝚄𝚗𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙿𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜 𝚅𝚒𝚜𝚊𝚢𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝙱𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙰𝚚𝚞𝚊𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝙲𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚗 𝙼𝚊𝚢 𝟾, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟼.

Contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals:
PartnershipsForTheGoals
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𝗔𝗾𝘂𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗡 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗔𝗖 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The Brackishwater Aquaculture Center (BAC) warmly welcomed Dr. Jean-Michel Mortillaro of the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), Head Researcher of the AquASEAN Project, and Mr. Dara Chin of Cambodia, a scholar under the AquASEAN MS Joint Scholarship Program, during their visit to the center on April 16, 2026.

The AquASEAN Project is funded by the Government of France through the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It aims to promote sustainable aquaculture through circular production systems, reduction of environmental emissions, and climate change adaptation. The project also supports the development of public policies that encourage circular economy principles and the use of local resources.

As a research partner, the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), through BAC, is implementing pilot-scale trials on circular aquaculture using an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) pond system. This system integrates tilapia, seaweeds, and snails as a climate-resilient production model.

This research collaboration underscores the center’s strong commitment to advancing climate-responsible aquaculture.

Contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals:
PartnershipsForTheGoals
ResponsibleConsumptionAndProduction
ZeroHunger
QualityEducation
LifeBelowWater

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐲 𝐂. 𝐄𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐥-𝐔.𝐏. 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐬𝐨 "𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐲"?

Salinity affects mangrove crab larvae survival more than temperature, student research finds

Comprehensive meta-analysis of temperature and salinity effects on 𝘚𝘤𝘺𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘱. larval survival shows evidence that salinity exerts a stronger influence than temperature on larval survival. The following are the recommended optimal conditions for four mangrove crab species:

𝘚. 𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘢: 30 °C, 30 ppt
𝘚. 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘯: 28–30 °C, 28–31 ppt
𝘚. 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢: 30.5 °C, 31 ppt
𝘚. 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘢: 29 °C, 28–33 ppt

Aquaculture production of these species continues to depend on wild-caught seedstock due to the low success rates of hatchery operations. These findings are essential for developing optimized and standardized larval rearing protocols to enhance hatchery production, while contributing to the reduction of reliance on wild seedstock.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘴𝘩 203 (𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘏𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵) 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴, 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩.

𝘈𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 – 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘈𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 (𝘋𝘖𝘚𝘛-𝘗𝘊𝘈𝘈𝘙𝘙𝘋) 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 “𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘊𝘳𝘢𝘣 (𝘚𝘤𝘺𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘢)” 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵. 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘖𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘝𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬.

𝙈𝙨. 𝘼𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙖 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙤, 𝙐𝙋𝙑 𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙛𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝘼𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝘾𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝘼𝘾 𝙇𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.

Contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals
Partnerships For The Goals
: Quality Education