College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS)

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: 

csdelcastillo@up.edu.ph

Google Scholar link

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.