Pioneer MS Fisheries graduates of DMMMSU-SLUC, College of Fisheries, bagged two awards during the 1st Regional Graduate Students Research Congress organized by the Ilocos Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (ILAARRDEC) last December 10, 2021. This was anchored in the theme “Disruptions into Innovations: Student Research as Channel for a Better Normal”.
Among 6 participants from HEI members of the consortium whose papers are along aquatic fields, Mr. Cjay Baldemor Soliven won Second Place. His paper is titled “Ectoparasitic Occurrence on Cultured Orange- Spotted Grouper: Epinephelus coioides in Santo Tomas, La Union”. Prof. Victoria N. Malaya was his adviser.
“The research was made to provide morphological characterization and identification of ectoparasites on orange-spotted grouper, E. coioides that are cultured in net cages in Sto. Tomas, La Union. Infestation levels determined in this study can be utilized as a guide or reference in the development of integrated health management interventions for grouper cage culture which can be used by the local farmers. The relationship of water quality can also provide better understanding of the vital role of water quality in culture management of grouper in the area. Moreover, the findings can be used as a reference of resource managers, policy makers, researchers, academicians and students who are involved in aquatic and fish health management,” Dr. Soliven explained during a short interview.
Meanwhile, Ms. Sancho V. Bilog, won Third Place. His paper is titled “Physico-chemical and Biological Characteristics of Water and Sediment in the Mariculture Zone Park of Sto.Tomas, La Union”.
Ms. Bilog also explained that “the results of the study will serve as reference for government institutions especially BFAR in the development of a framework for siting and operating ecologically-sustainable fish grow-out farms as a source of production. Likewise, other stakeholders will also benefit from the study as they will be provided with science-based and qualitative analysis on the environmental status of the Mariculture Zone Park”.
For their prize, Mr. Soliven received five thousand pesos (Php 5,000) while Ms. Bilog received three thousand pesos (Php 3,000).
The ILAARRDEC Regional Graduate Student Research Congress is an initiative of the consortium to enable graduate students to present their thesis/dissertation in scientific conferences or publish in research journals as stipulated in CHED Memorandum Circular No. 15, Series of 2019. The consortium ensures that entries undergo refereeing by the panel of evaluators as an initial step towards their submission for publication in external journals. Likewise, highlights are published in a book of abstracts which is one of the identified deliverables which are contributory to PCAARRD’s funding support for the implementation of the said congress.
