AQD and Japan benefit from mutual learning experiences

For nearly four decades, SEAFDEC/AQD has teamed up with Japan (a member country of SEAFDEC) in training aquaculture and fisheries researchers. On 25 August, 13 students from Hiroshima University visited AQD as part of their study tour funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. They were briefed by AQD Deputy Chief Dr. Teruo Azuma on the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Fisheries Consultative Group programs; AQD research head Dr. Evelyn Grace de Jesus-Ayson on recent mariculture technologies developed by AQD; and AQD training & information head Mr. Renato Agbayani on AQD’s initiatives in coastal resource management.

On another occasion, on 31 August – 1 September, AQD welcomed four visitors from Tokai University (Dr. Satoshi Ishikawa) and the University of Tokyo (Dr. Akira Takagi) with their two undergraduate fisheries students. The students are currently on a two-week internship here at AQD until 17 September. AQD’s visitors spent their time discovering AQD’s hatcheries on marine fish, sandfish, abalone, seahorse, and mudcrab; phycology, analytical and biotechnology laboratories; and feed mill plant.

Meanwhile, two AQD associate scientists Dr. Frolan Aya and Dr. Ma. Michelle Peñaranda participated in the Advanced program to foster young and female researchers from Southeast Asia in sustainable fisheries science from 31 August to 5 October at the Faculty of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University in Japan. Dr. Aya and Dr. Peñaranda, through a study grant from Hokkaido University are conducting their research on silver therapon and bacteria – derived enzymes, respectively.