PANABO CITY – Davao del Norte State College, through the Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology and Master of Science in Marine Biodiversity programs, Marine Biodiversity Research and Conservation Center, in partnership with the Marine Biological Society and the Internationalization and External Affairs Division, hosted the activity, “Let’s Talk About Dagat: A Lecture Series on Marine Biodiversity Research and Conservation” on May 7, 2026, at the DNSC Audio-Visual Room.
The activity was attended by BSMB and MSMB faculty and staff, Marine Biology students and alumni, students from the Borneo Marine Research Institute at University Malaysia Sabah, representatives from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Panabo, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) XI, City Agriculture Office of Tagum City, LGU-Samal Fisheries Division Conservation Section, environmental practitioners, and an intern from Vietnam.
Resource speaker, Dr. Fikri Akmal Khodzori, delivered a lecture titled “Reef to Community: Strategies for Safeguarding Marine Biodiversity in Malaysia”, highlighting the need for science-based conservation, community engagement, and sustainable practices in protecting marine ecosystems. He stressed that coral reefs remain among the most vital yet vulnerable ecosystems, facing threats from climate change, pollution, destructive human activities, and coral diseases. He also talked about reef rehabilitation and restoration efforts, emphasizing that marine biodiversity conservation requires collaboration among scientists, educators, students, government agencies, and local communities.
In her welcome remarks, DNSC Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Girley S. Gumanao, touched on regional collaboration within the Coral Triangle, “Here, we carry both the honor of hosting one of the world’s richest marine ecosystems and the urgent responsibility of protecting it. This is one of the reasons why we continue to collaborate with our partners in Malaysia to better understand our shared marine resources and work together in developing common strategies to sustain these highly productive ecosystems for present and future generations.”
Closing the activity, Institute of Advanced Studies Dean, Dr. Nickel Jean I. Lagare-Sastine, reiterated shared responsibility in marine conservation, “Today’s discussion reminds us that conserving marine biodiversity is not solely the responsibility of scientists and institutions; it is a shared responsibility among communities, educators, researchers, and future leaders. As we always say, we share the same ocean; therefore, we share the same responsibility.”
For BSMB student Alleah Katrina P. Pansacala, the webinar deepened her understanding of marine stewardship and coral reef protection, “My biggest takeaway from this talk is that I learned a lot about the different threats affecting our coral communities, as well as the proper ways to help restore and protect them. This discussion also inspired me to become a more responsible and environmentally conscious individual in caring for our marine ecosystem.
This talk is born out from the international training “NEF-NMNS-USM Workshop on Marine Biodiversity Research: Taxonomy and Specimen Management of Marine Invertebrates” of Anselmo G. Anobong Jr., and Carl Joseph O. Castañeda last November 11-17, 2025 in the Center for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS)- Universiti Sains Malaysia. It forms part of the re-entry plan aimed at strengthening and expanding international linkages in Marine Science.
