TWO scientists from Japan recently visited Mariano Marcos State University to discuss a research collaboration on aquatic biodiversity.

They were Dr. Ken Maeda of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology and Dr. Midori Iida of the Hokkaido University.

Titled “Freshwater and Estuarine Fish Fauna of the Philippines,” the project aims to study larval dispersal mechanisms of diadromous fish along the Kuroshio Current.

It will analyze fish populations across Northern Luzon, Palawan, Taiwan, and Japan, highlighting how ocean currents impact biodiversity.

MMSU’s College of Aquatic Sciences and Applied Technology will lead efforts in Ilocos Norte, with the project set to begin in 2025. CASAT faculty and students will assist in data collection, sampling, and monitoring.

MMSU OIC-President Prima Fe Franco expressed gratitude for the partnership, underscoring the university’s dedication to biodiversity conservation.

Dean Ernesto Del Rosario, on the other hand, affirmed MMSU’s readiness to contribute to the initiative.

The project will receive support from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte.

It will be funded by the Nagao Natural Environment Foundation, a Japanese NGO focused on nature conservation and human resource development.