The year 2015 has been remarkable for the Philippine Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology as it held its 42nd Annual Convention with the theme “OMICS: Applications in Biomedical, Agricultural, and Environmental Science” on December 3 and 4, 2015, at the Centro Escolar University, Mendiola, Manila. The theme was further classified to different categories entailing OMICS for health, OMICS for agri-fisheries, and OMICS for environment. The scientific community was once again united in hearing lectures from various keynote and plenary speakers from different parts of the world. One of the plenary speakers was Dr. Maria Corazon A. Ungria from the DNA Analysis Laboratory of the University of the Philippines Diliman Natural Sciences Research Institute (UPD-NSRI). Members of the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) actively participated in the PSBMB convention. Dr. Mudjekeewis D. Santos, our Scientist II, who also happens to be the auditor of the PSBMB committee, facilitated the Young Scientist Forum (YSF). Jacqueline Marjorie R. Pereda, Science Research Analyst of the GFL presented her paper entitled, “Molecular Cloning, Characterization, and Expression of a Novel Serine/Threonine Protein Phosphatase in Penaeus monodon: Potential Role in the Resistance Against White Spot Syndrome Virus”. Minerva Fatimae H. Ventolero, Aquaculturist I, co-authored and presented the paper entitled, “Comparative analysis of DNA extraction techniques to identify species in fishery processed products”. Aside from the two, Katreena P. Sarmiento, Science Research Analyst from GFL, also presented her research paper entitled, “Molecular Characterization and Expression Analysis of Chitin Deacetylase 1 Gene in Black Tiger Shrimp Penaeus monodon (Fabricius 1798)”, which garnered the First Place in the Poster Presentation Agri-Fisheries Category.
First Place Winner in the Agri-Fisheries Category in the 2015 PSBMB Poster Presentation Competition
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The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Central Office, together with the Manta Trust, conducted a Species Identification workshop specific to sharks and manta rays last December 9, 2015 at the Walter Hogan Conference Center in the Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City. Two representatives, Minerva Fatimae H. Ventolero (Aquaculturist I) and Katreena P. Sarmiento (Science Research Analyst) from GFL-NFRDI attended te said training. Miss Ludivinda L. Labe, former Senior Aquaculturist of NFRDI and the current Officer-In-Charge of Aquatic Wildlife Regulations Section in BFAR Central Office acted as the core facilitator of the mentioned workshop. Among the speakers were Mr. Edwyn B. Alesna (Chief, FRQD Foreign Trade & Miscellaneous Permits Section) who talked about the Philippines International and Domestic Initiative for Sharks and Rays, Ms. Grace V. Lopez (Aquaculturist II, NFRDI) who talked about the Sharks and Rays of the Philippines in behalf of Dr. Mudjekeewis D. Santos, Ms. Shannon Arnold (Philippines Project Leader, The Manta Trust) who spoke more about Manta and Devil Ray fisheries, bycatch, and trade in the Philippines, Mr. Daniel Fernando (Associate Director, The Manta Trust) who talked about Global Status, Conservation, and Trade of Manta and Devil Rays, Ms. Debra Abercrombie (Representative, Stony Brook University) who elaborated on the CITES listed Sharks: Status, Conservation, and Trade, and Dr. Nilo Katada (Officer-In-Charge, BFAR Fisheries Law Enforcement and Quick Response Team) who enlightened the NSAP enumerators, BFAR Officers, and all the attendees with the Standard Operating Procedures: Fisheries Law Enforecement. Wholly, the training turned out to be a fun and interactive learning experience for everyone. Ms. Abercrombie handed out a simple and easy identification guide in identifying Oceanic Whitetip, Porbeagle, and Hammerheads. She also gave out her collection of fins for the attendees to actively participate and identify the species of the sharks. Mr. Fernando also gave out samples of gill plates from manta rays and mobulids and effectively communicated with the attendees to show how to determine which gill plates and obtained from manta rays and which are those from mobulids. This training was conducted primarily to help BFAR officers and NSAP enumerators to easily identify which species are illegally traded and CITES-listed. Specifically, manta rays are the ones specified to be prohibited for trading while mobulids are allowed as long as it is sustained. On the other hand, five threatened shark species (oceanic whitetip, porbeagle, scalloped hammerhead, smooth hammerhead, and great hammerhead) were already included in the CITES list, therefore must be subjected to conservation and management measures.
The National Stock Assessment Program team conducted their 2016 Planning Workshop vis-a-vis Writeshop entitled " Writeshop on baselines for the West Phlippine Sea and for the Comprehensive National Fisheries Industry Development Plan" last November 30 - Deember 5, 2015 at Mibang Hotel, Dipolog City. Five of the Genetic Fingerprinting Laboratory sciene research analysts were invited to talk about certain topics of their expertise. Ms. Angela Camille Aguila presented the "Application of Fisheries Vulnerability Assessment Tool (Fish Vool)", Ms. Jennifer Poniente talked about the role of "Remote Sensing to Philippine Fisheries", Ms. Roselyn Aguila discussed the "Population Genetics in Fisheries Management", Ms. Angelli Asis presented the "Data Collection System for Fry Fishery Assessment and Ms. Katreena Sarmiento for the "Fish Ka Ba Talaga? Species Identificationthrough DNA Barcoding". Together with the NSAP Team, they successfully marked the 2016 NSAP Year-End Meeting.
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