FSI Co-Hosts Discussion on Political Economy and Ecology in the West Philippine Sea

FSI Director General Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III welcomes participants and attendees to the public discussion event, “When Fishing Goes Beyond Fishers,” at Citadines Bay City, Pasay City.

MANILA 18 October 2024 – On 09 October 2024, the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), in partnership with the University of the Philippines Los Baños School of Environmental Science and Management (UPLB-SESAM) and the USAID Fish Right Program, co-hosted "When Fishing Goes Beyond Fishers,” a public discussion event focused on the political economy and ecology of marine and fisheries resources in the West Philippine Sea.

The event marked the culmination of the Essay Writing Project, which was developed by UPLB-SESAM in partnership with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), USAID, and the University of Rhode Island (URI) Fish Right Program. It featured perspectives from environmental and marine science experts on the political economy and political ecology of managing fisheries and resources in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), specifically emphasizing Fisheries Management Areas (FMAs) 5 and 6.

FSI Director General Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III welcomed the participants, reaffirming the Institute’s commitment to fostering collaboration among academia, civil society organizations, and government agencies. He highlighted the importance of a unified approach to strengthening the Philippines' maritime identity. Further, Fernandez highlighted FSI’s mission to deepen public understanding of the political and economic factors influencing disputes in the West Philippine Sea, the actions being taken to address these challenges, and their implications for marine and fisheries resources.

Participants of the discussion were from the FSI, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), UPLB-SESAM, USAID Fish Rights Program, the academe, students, media, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The Foreign Service Institute is the training and research office of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which was created under Presidential Decree No. 1060 and whose remit was expanded under Republic Act No. 7157. END

(Left-Right) UPLB-SESAM Dean Dr. Rico Ancog, FSI Director General Francisco Noel Fernandez III, USAID Philippines Deputy Director Mr. Thomas Kaluzny, and University of the Philippines Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Leo Cubillan unveiled the cover of the publication “When Fishing Goes Beyond Fishers.”

Contributing authors with FSI, UPLB-SESAM, and USAID officials during the unveiling of “When Fishing Goes Beyond Fishers” essay collection.

Attendees to the public discussion posed for a quick photo opportunity at the end of the event.