Tropical Fisheries and Coastal Sustainability (TroFiCS)

The Tropical Fisheries and Coastal Sustainability (TroFICS) program immerses U.S. fisheries, marine biology, oceanography, and environmental science students in the biologically rich ecosystems of the Philippine archipelago. Hosted by the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS) at University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), this program bridges academic marine research with community-based coastal resource management, offering a critical look at sustainability in the Global South.

14 days

Undergraduate and graduate students from fields such as but not limited to: Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences, Marine Biology, Marine Ecology, Oceanography, Coastal Resource Management & Environmental Science, Natural Resource Conservation & Biodiversity Studies, Aquaculture & Post-Harvest Fisheries, Agricultural Economics, Fisheries Economics, Value Chains, Public Policy, Environmental Governance, Sociology/Anthropology of Coastal Communities, International Development, Sustainability Studies

UPV Miagao Campus, Iloilo City, San Joaquin, and Guimaras Island

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Tropical Fisheries and Coastal Sustainability (TroFiCS)

Program Highlights

Premier Academic Hub

UPV is the recognized leader in Philippine fisheries and aquatic sciences education, research, and development, housing several research centers, including the Freshwater Aquaculture Center, Brackishwater Aquaculture Station, Batan Mariculture Center, UPV Marine Biological Station, Center for West Visayan Studies, Regional Research Center, and the Philippine Genome Center-Visayas

Biodiversity & Aquaculture

Gain hands-on exposure to advanced aquaculture technologies (finfish, crustaceans, bivalves, seaweeds), biological oceanography, and field studies in active Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

Socio-Ecological Systems

Focuses on the intersection of fisheries science and human impact, analyzing the fisheries value chain from rural coastal capture to urban post-harvest processing.