Faculty researchers from MSU-Naawan, namely: Dr. Wilfredo H. Uy, Dr. Annabelle Dece A. Espadero and Dr. Emmylou A. Emperador attended the Sea Cucumber Project meeting held at Nha Trang, Vietnam on November 7-11, 2022. The team, alongside the local project collaborators; University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI), Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC AQD), Guiuan Development Foundation Incorporated (GDFI); and also the partners from the Research Institute for Aquaculture 3 of Vietnam, the University of Sunshine Coast of Australia, and the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) visited the Research Institute for Aquaculture No. 3.

 The meeting reviews the current project status, future plans on research activities and collaboration on sea cucumber on various partners to enhance the technical skills in order to support sea cucumbers production in both the Vietnamese and the Filipino communities.  The team was also given the opportunity to visit the RIA-3 sandfish (Holothuria scabra) and teatfish (Holothuria fuscogilva) hatchery facilities, as well as a farm visit to local farmers adapting the integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), which integrates sea cucumber culture with pompano and babylonia snails. They were able to observe the sandfish pond culture, which will be implemented soon at the University.

 The ACIAR funded Sea Cucumber Project develops protocols and techniques of mass producing sandfish species, from the spawning of broodstock to the rearing of larvae in hatchery to hapa nursery in ponds and ocean and to pen grow-out. This initiative collaborates directly with our local communities; it teaches fishermen about the economic and ecological benefits of sea cucumbers while also providing them with an alternative source of income.

With this linkage, MSU-Naawan will unceasingly continue to promote sustainability and food security through aquaculture research and development.