INSTITUTE OF AQUACULTURE
As one of the four institutes of the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, the Institute of Aquaculture (IA) conducts its programs and activities in the field of aquaculture with focus on the following functions: academic/instruction, research, and public service/extension.
The institute is guided by an overarching vision and mission to provide excellent education, research, and extension in the field of aquaculture, as well as to develop and implement curricular programs in aquaculture and inland fisheries that are relevant to the needs of the industry.
It offers three graduate academic programs– Ph.D. in Fisheries (Aquaculture), M.S. in Fisheries (Aquaculture), and Master of Aquaculture (1-year non-thesis program). It also offers an undergraduate program, BSc. in Fisheries, which it implements together with the other institutes of CFOS.
The Institute undertakes basic and applied research based on national goals and priorities. The Institute has the mission to enhance the country’s capabilities in aquaculture research for maximum production without degrading the environment, and generate aquaculture technologies for industrial and economic development.
- Its facilities which include the Multi-species Hatchery and Freshwater Aquaculture Station in Miagao, Brackishwater Aquaculture Center in Leganes, and Batan Mariculture Station in Aklan, are adequate to support research programs and projects on:
- Development and/or improvement of hatchery and culture techniques for commercially important finfish, shellfish, seaweeds and other aquatic organisms;
- Fish health, nutrition and genetics; and
Conservation and management of inland and coastal waters.
The extension programs of the Institute mainly focus on technology verification, training, technical assistance and consultancies. Technologies generated and developed from research projects are verified either in the production ponds or in cooperation with the private sector. Appropriate technologies are disseminated through community outreach services, institutional training programs, and technical assistance and consultancies.
VISION AND MISSION
VISION
To provide excellent education, research, and extension in the field of aquaculture
MISSION
To develop and implement curricular programs in aquaculture and inland fisheries that are relevant to the needs of the industry
WHO WE ARE
The Institute of Aquaculture’s faculty roster are experts in their fields; they teach as well as engage in scholarly research. The faculty members work closely with the students in providing general instruction and in supervising undergraduate and graduate theses. They are dedicated to help their students shape their academic programs and discover new intellectual passions.
FACULTY MEMBERS
Dr. Victor Marco Emmanuel N. Ferriols
Associate Professor 6 and IA Director
Field of Expertise: Genetics in Aquaculture; Biotechnology
Educational attainment: Ph.D. Aquatic Bioscience (The University of Tokyo, Japan)
Contact Information: vnferriols@up.edu.ph
Google Scholar link
Dr. Rex Ferdinand M. Traifalgar
Professor 7
Field of Expertise: Nutritional Immunology; Fish genetics
Educational attainment: Ph.D. Fisheries Science (Kagoshima University, Japan)
Contact Information: rmtraifalgar@up.edu.ph
Google Scholar link
Dr. Liberato V. Laureta
Professor Emeritus
Field of Expertise: Mollusk Taxonomy, Ecology and Biology, Taxonomy, Fish Energetics, Fisheries Rehabilitation
Educational attainment: Ph.D. Marine Biology (University of Liverpool, UK)
Contact Information: lvlaureta@up.edu.ph
Google Scholar link
Dr. Mae Grace G. Nillos
Professor 4
Field of Expertise: Environmental analytical chemistry; Aquatic Ecotoxicology
Educational attainment: Ph.D. Environmental Toxicology (University of California-Riverside, CA, USA)
Contact Information: mgnillos@up.edu.ph
Google Scholar link
Dr. Liah C. Catedrilla
Associate Professor 7
Field of Expertise: Extension Education; Aquaculture Dev. Communication
Educational attainment: Ph.D. Extension Education (UP Los Baños)
Contact Information: lccatedrilla2@up.edu.ph
Google Scholar link
Prof. Nieves a. Toledo
Associate Professor 6
Field of Expertise: Aquaculture; Ichthyology
Educational attainment: MS Fisheries (Kagoshima University, Japan)
Contact Information: natoledo1@up.edu.ph
Google Scholar link
Dr. Jerome G. Genodepa
Associate Professor 2
Field of Expertise: Crustacean Aquaculture Management
Educational attainment: Ph.D. in Fisheries (James Cook University, Australia)
Contact Information: jggenodepa@up.edu.ph
Google Scholar link
Dr. Iris Ann G. Borlongan
Assistant Professor 7
Field of Expertise: Phycology; Seaweed Ecophysiology; Seaweed Culture
Educational attainment: Ph.D. Fisheries Science (Kagoshima University, Japan)
Contact Information: igborlongan@up.edu.ph
Google Scholar link
Dr. Carmelo Del Castillo
Assistant Professor 4 and UPV-NIMBB Director
Field of Expertise: Aquatic Microbiology
Educational attainment: Ph.D. Fisheries Science (Applied Science of Marine Resources) (Kagoshima University, Japan)
Contact Information:
Dr. Cherry P. Añasco
Assistant Professor 4
Field of Expertise: Biostatistics
Educational attainment: Ph.D. in Fisheries
Contact Information: cpanasco@up.edu.ph
Google Scholar link
Dr. Sanny David P. Lumayno
Assistant Professor 3
Field of Expertise: Fish Reproductive Endocrinology
Educational attainment: Ph.D. Agricultural Sciences (Kyushu University, Japan)
Contact Information: splumayno@up.edu.ph
Google Scholar link
Dr. Mary Grace C. Sedanza
Assistant Professor 1
Field of Expertise: Aquatic Invertebrates; Marine Biofouling and Control
Educational attainment: Ph.D. Candidate in Fisheries Science (Nagasaki University)
Contact Information: mcsedanza@up.edu.ph
Google Scholar link
Ms. Angel Queenee D. Dequito
Assistant Professor 1
Field of Expertise: Computational Biology and Ecology; Shrimp transcriptomics and metagenomics; Climate Change and Aquaculture
Educational attainment: MS Fisheries (UP Visayas)
Contact Information: addequito@up.edu.ph
Google Scholar link
Mr. Vince Neil B. Fuertes
Instructor 4
Field of Expertise: Aquatic Health Management; Aquatic Ecology
Educational attainment: Bachelor of Science in Fisheries, Magna cum laude (UP Visayas)
Contact Information: vbfuertes@up.edu.ph
Google Scholar link
Ms. Kyle Iris C. Touzo
Instructor 4
Field of Expertise: Applied Aquaculture Biotechnology
Educational attainment: Bachelor of Science in Fisheries, Magna cum laude (UP Visayas)
Contact Information: kctouzo@up.edu.ph
Google Scholar link
Mr. Fredson H. Huervana
Instructor 3
Field of Expertise: Aquaculture Technologies
Educational attainment: MS Fisheries (Aquaculture) (UP Visayas)
Contact Information: fhhuervana@up.edu.ph
Google Scholar link
Ms. ROWENA E. CADIZ
Instructor 3
Field of Expertise: Inland aquatic biodiversity, molecular biology
Educational attainment: Master of Science in Fisheries (Aquaculture)
Contact Information: recadiz@up.edu.ph
Google Scholar link
Mr. OMAR ADRIANNE P. ALAMAN
Instructor 3
Field of Expertise: Developmental biology of aquatic vertebrates; marine genomics
Educational attainment: Master of Science in Marine Life Sciences- Marine Genomics (Tokyo University of Marine Sciences and Technology)
Contact Information: opalaman@up.edu.ph
Google Scholar link
Ms. MARY GOLD R. DAVID
Instructor 3
Field of Expertise: Aquaculture engineering, hatchery management
Educational attainment: Bachelor of Science in Fisheries, Cum laude (UP Visayas)
Contact Information: mrdavid3@up.edu.ph
Google Scholar link
EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
The research framework of the institute of aquaculture includes environment-friendly aquaculture, health management, and precision aquaculture. Most of the research projects focused on the following commodities: milkfish, shrimp, mussel, mudcrab, tilapia, micro- and macroalgae, few marine species, and aquafeeds.
The institute had accumulated 408M peso-funding since 2011 from different sources such as the Department of Science and Technology, UP, CHED, private sectors, and etc. 29 out 61 (48%) research projects were able to acquire equipment for the capacity building of CFOS.
