DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Philippines (PIA) — The Department of Agriculture (DA) recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with Silliman University (SU) in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental to undertake a collaborative research project that would examine the stock and population structure of Philippine marine species.

The agreement was signed by SU President Dr. Ben Malayang III and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala for the collection of selected marine species in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, according to SU Office of Information and Publications Director Mark Raygan Garcia.

“The project will focus mainly on research on seagrass, seaweeds, soft and hard corals, fish, and invertebrates,” said Garcia.

The project is in line with a bigger project named the “Origins of High Marine Biodiversity in the Indo-Malay Philippine Archipelago: Transforming a Biodiversity Hotspot into a Research and Education Hotspot” undertaken by the SU’s Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences in partnership with the Old Dominion University Research Foundation.

Garcia said molecular tools will be used in the assessment of the collected specimens.

“Since the project involves graduate students from Silliman, Old Dominion University and other partner academic institutions, it doubles as a venue for training in molecular genetic techniques and the development of scientific linkages,” he said.

DA, with its commitment to improve information systems involving the country’s aquatic biological diversity, will benefit as one of the project’s recipients of scientific data which will serve as reference guide to effective fisheries management and policy making.

Said project will run for some 11 months, ending in July next year.