A recent collaboration between the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute Genetic Fingerprinting Laboratory (NFRDI-GFL)and Smithsonian Institution Natural Museum of Natural History (NMNH) has concluded its one month expedition to collect commercial food fish around the Philippines. The project entitled DNA Barcoding of Commercially Important Food Fish in the Philippines was led by well-known taxonomist, Dr. Kent Carpenter who is currently a professor at Old Dominion University and the person who famously quoted that the Philippines is the center of the center of marine biodiversity in the world. He is accompanied by Dr. Jeffrey T. Williams, collections manager of the Smithsonian Institution and two research assistants from GFL, Apollo Lizano and Toby Potenciana. The team had their first sampling at different public markets around Davao City. All the way from Mindanao, they flew to Sorsogon City where they were assisted by Aida Andayog Research coordinator of the said region. Lastly, the team went to Tugegarao and Apari. According to Dr Williams “There were a lot of variety of fishes here in the Philippines and it surprises me every time we go to the different markets to collect samples. It is always greater than what we expect since we already collected a lot of fish from the same project last year”. Dr. Carpenter also added “We got the best fish collection team that Luzon has ever seen of course with the help of Doc Mudjie from NFRDI, this trip was a success”. In conclusion the team collected a total of 291 fish samples with approximately 270 different species of fish. Fish vouchers and tissue samples that were collected during the trip were brought at the Smithsonian Museum, Washington D.C and can be accessed for research purposes upon request.
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Last April 8, 2012 Scientist I and head of Genetic Fingerprinting Laboratory Mudjekeewis D. Santos, Ph.D. went to Manado, Indonesia and Kota Kinabalu Sabbah Malaysia to collect pelagic fish samples and conduct a tissue collection training under the United Nations Development Program – Global Environment Facility (UNDP-GEF) Sustainable Fisheries Management (SFM) Project entitled “Genetic Stock Structure of Some Commercially Important Small Pelagics. Activities at Manado, Indonesia were done through the collaboration with Dr. Suwarso of the Research Institute of Marine Fisheries (RIMF). Dr. Santos went to the Manado Landing sites to collect samples of pelagic fishes. Unfortunately landing activities were not seen during that time. Local fish market called “Pasar Bersehati were chosen as an alternative sampling site. Dr. Santos were able to collect pelagic fishes which includes adult and juvenile Bali sardines (Sardinella lemuru), Bigeyed Scad (Selar crumenophthalmus) and Frigante Tuna (Auxis thazard). Tissue samples were collected and archived based on the standard protocol of the GFL. Sampling activities at Kota Kinabalu Sabbah Malaysia were done through the participation of Mr. Irman Isnain of Department of Fisheries, Fisheries Research Center (FRC). Two sampling sites were considered in this trip the Pasar Ikan Kota Kinabalu (Kota Kinabalu Fish Landing and Market) and Pasar Ikan Kudat (Kudat Fish Landing and Market). Dr. Santos was able to collect same species as mentioned above with the addition of Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) and Goldstriped sardine (Sardinella gibbosa). Doc Mudjie also conducted a hands-on-training to Mr. Isnain and Mr. Derisa of FRC on tissue collection and preservation as they also helped out in the processing of samples. He also delivered a one hour lecture on the various research activities being undertaken by the GFL on using DNA for fisheries management and aquaculture to the members of the Fisheries Research Center of the Department of Fisheries Sabah.
In conclusion, Doc Mudjie said that “Sampling and training activity was generally successful as most of the fish samples that were targeted for collection following the approved proposal under the UNDP-GEF SCS SFM Project were secured and brought to the GFL in the Philippines. Likewise, a number of people have been trained hands-on and were informed of the existing projects of GFL. This was made possible by the concerted effort and support of the implementers of the SCS SFM Project in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines”. He also added that “It is recommended that the Philippines through BFAR-NFRDI continues to support the on-going implementation of the Sub-Committee on Sustainable Fisheries project entitled UNDP/GEF Sulu Celebes Seas Sustainable Fisheries Management (SCS SFM) Project as this directly feeds to the Comprehensive Action Plan of the Tri-National Committee to ensure the sustainability and security of the marine resources in the Sulu-Sulawesi Large Marine Ecoregion”. |
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