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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Pinay researcher empowers rural fisherfolk with innovative tech crafted by UP scientists

Pinay researcher empowers rural fisherfolk with innovative tech crafted by UP scientists

Published Nov 10, 2023 07:34 am

A Filipina researcher and advocate of sustainable fishing practices from the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Science's Marine Science Institute (UPD-CS MSI) has committed efforts and works closely with small-scale fishers and government agencies to assist rural fisherfolk with technologies developed by UP scientists.

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Dr. Yñiguez holds a SensPak tube, developed by UP scientists, off the coast of Bolinao in June 2021. Once lowered in the water, such devices can help scientists and fisherfolk monitor the health of the marine environment almost in real time. (Photo credit: UPD-CS MSI DOST HABHazard Program)

"To ensure the sustainable utilization and management of ocean resources, it is critical that observational, monitoring and decision-support tools are in place to provide concrete, science-based information and management," UPD-CS MSI researcher Dr. Aletta Concepcion T. Yñiguez said in an iStories webinar, hosted by the UPD-CS.

"But the technologies, tools and capacity for these are sorely lacking,” she added.

Yñiguez and her fellow MSI researchers invented "ARAICoBeH (A Rapid Assessment Instrument for Coastal Benthic Habitats)," a low-cost technology that can capture underwater images of endangered areas like coral reefs without diving.

Yñiguez also led the development of "HABhub (Harmful Algal Bloom Hub)," an online initiative that facilitates the detection and reporting of algal blooms—a rapid increase of algae—which could threaten both the lives and livelihoods of affected fisherfolk.

"HABhub also provides robust early-warning systems that would allow for more proactive mitigation and enhanced understanding of these phenomena," UPD-CS said.

The mentioned invention and online platform assist and uplift local coastal communities by helping them make better-informed decisions on when and how to utilize marine resources.

“Our present efforts help bridge this gap through interdisciplinary collaborations to develop cost-effective sensors that automate ocean observation, building ocean data repositories and models for understanding, forecasting, and decision-support,” Yñiguez underscored.

Moreover, Yñiguez was acknowledged for her work by The Outstanding Women in Nation’s Service (TOWNS) Foundation, Inc., and was awarded the TOWNS Award in 2022.

This honor is given to Filipino women aged 21 to 45 years old who have made significant contributions to Philippine society in their chosen fields.

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University of the Philippine Diliman
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