A STUDENT from the University of the Philippines Visayas participated in the Regional Workshop of the Youth Ambassadors Program for Sustainable Fisheries Management in Bangkok, Thailand.

Thony Steven Buriel, a BS Fisheries major, attended the three-day workshop organized by the United States Agency for International Development’s Sustainable Fish Asia Technical Support, in collaboration with the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security.

Youth and professionals from the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam joined the regional workshop, which addressed food security, climate change, and marine biodiversity in support of sustainable marine and coastal resources.

The program aimed to provide capacity-building on issues such as coastal marine ecosystems, climate change, unsustainable fishing practices, illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, coastal livelihoods, and fair labor.

It also served as a platform for participants to establish regional networks, share experiences, and discuss strategies for confronting various challenges related to marine fisheries management.

Representing the youth from the Philippines, Buriel said the experience gave him innovative ideas and collaborative solutions for sustainable fisheries management.

“The mentorship and lectures greatly influenced my perspective on fisheries management. I feel empowered and equipped to advocate for marine biodiversity, fisheries management, gender equality, social inclusion, and leadership skills, hoping to make a positive impact in the communities,” UPV quoted Buriel as saying.

“Meeting people from various backgrounds with the same goal of sustainable fisheries inspired me to pursue my passion for sustainability,” he added.

Buriel also participated in the CTI-CFF Youth Ambassadors Program Online Capacity Building Series via Zoom last August.