Last September 27, 2023, UPV College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences spearheaded the Fisheries Industry Forum with the theme: “Current Trends and Perspectives on Interdisciplinarity, Collaborations and Inclusivity in the Fisheries Sector: Responding to the Needs of Time”.

This is an annual Fisheries Industry Forum that provides a venue for students, faculty members, researchers, and administrative personnel to discuss their views on the competencies required for our Fisheries graduates and their expectations of an academic institution. It is also to seek partnership with different stakeholders to truly meet the needs of the fisheries industry. 

The invited resource speakers came from different walks of fisheries science. They were Dr. Dennis Calvan, Director on Government Engagement Policies from RARE Philippines; Mr. Chris Mitchum Ganancial, Marketing and Financial Manager of Hoc Po Feeds Corporation; Dr. Maria Rowena R. Romana-Equia, Assoc. Professorial Lecturer at De La Salle University and a member of CHED Technical Panel for Fisheries Education; and Mr. Paris Uldarico Y. Ayon, Port Manager, PFDA General Santos Fish Port Complex. 

 Asst. Prof. Dr. Liberty N. Espectato, served as moderator in the forum and the discussion proper. 

The event was also graced by UPV Chancellor Dr. Clement C. Camposano, Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development, Dr. Rhodella Ibabao, Assistant to the VCRE, Dr. Mary Grace Sedanza and RRC and PGC Director Dr. Victor Marco Emmanuel Ferriols. CFOS dean Prof. Emilia Encarnacion S. Yap, expressed her gratitude to everyone who attended the event as well as the people behind it. 

This yearly event is an avenue for valuable insights from the industry that could be used to improve existing curricular programs as well as to expose students to the current happenings in the Philippine fisheries industry on a larger scale.