October 21-23, 2026
Batangas State University
The National Engineering University
Batangas City, Philippines
About the Conference
The Philippine Small-Scale Fisheries National Symposium is organized through a rotational hosting arrangement among forty-eight (48) higher education institutions (HEIs) offering fisheries programs, as well as institutions with a strong interest in promoting the welfare of small-scale fisherfolk through research and development initiatives. This approach promotes national collaboration and encourages wider regional participation in fisheries research, education, and policy dialogue.
The First Philippine Small-Scale Fisheries National Symposium, held on October 16–18, 2024, was hosted by the University of the Philippines Visayas, a leading institution in marine and fisheries research in the Philippines. The Second Philippine Small-Scale Fisheries National Symposium, held on October 21–23, 2025, was subsequently hosted by Mindanao State University in Marawi City, Mindanao, expanding the symposium’s reach and engagement with stakeholders from the southern Philippines.
These venues provided important platforms for bringing together researchers, policymakers, fisheries practitioners, and representatives of small-scale fishing communities to exchange knowledge, share research findings, and discuss strategies for strengthening the sustainability and governance of small-scale fisheries in the country.
Continuing this collaborative tradition, the Third Philippine Small-Scale Fisheries National Symposium will be hosted by Batangas State University in Batangas City, Luzon, on October 21–23, 2026. This event will further strengthen nationwide participation, promote knowledge exchange, and foster sustained dialogue among fisheries stakeholders, researchers, policymakers, and academic institutions. As a testament to its commitment to fisheries education and development, Batangas State University also offers the Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (BSFAS) at its ARASOF–Nasugbu Campus, contributing to the preparation of future fisheries professionals and advancing sustainable aquatic resource management.
The first two Philippines Small-Scale Fisheries National Symposia established a clear national consensus: that small-scale fisheries (SSF) are too vital to ignore, and that the country must move from recognition to sustained action. Across many coastal communities, community-based and co-management fisheries initiatives have already demonstrated measurable gains in resource recovery, local governance, gender inclusion, and livelihood diversification.
However, these successful models often remain localized, fragmented, and insufficiently documented, limiting their potential for wider replication and policy integration.
Anchored on the theme “From Action to Replication: Scaling Up and Deepening the Impact of Small-Scale Fisheries,” the Third Philippines Small-Scale Fisheries National Symposium seeks to advance the discourse from isolated success stories toward systematic scaling, adaptation, and institutionalization of proven practices.
The symposium is guided by a central question: How can effective small-scale fisheries initiatives be replicated and scaled to generate sustainable, inclusive, and long-term impact across Philippine coastal communities?
By convening stakeholders from government, academia, civil society, and fisher organizations, the symposium aims to catalyze evidence-based dialogue, strengthen cross-sector partnerships, and identify strategic pathways for translating local innovations into nationally relevant solutions that reinforce resilient coastal livelihoods and sustainable fisheries governance.
By hosting the 2026 Third PSSFNS, Batangas State University – The National Engineering University strengthens its leadership in sustainability, community-based research, and its longstanding engagement with small-scale fishing communities in the Philippines.
This initiative aligns with:
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries
- TBTI’s Global Small-Scale Fisheries Research Agenda
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 2, 5, 10, 13, 14, and 16
- Philippine Blue Economy and Climate Adaptation frameworks
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
To provide a national platform that advances evidence-based, scalable, and replicable initiatives in small-scale fisheries (SSF), aimed at deepening socio-ecological resilience, inclusive governance, and sustainable coastal development in the Philippines.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
- To bring together the different small-scale fisheries stakeholders, including fishers, researchers, policymakers, local government units, civil society organizations, private sector actors, artists, youth leaders, and development partners, to strengthen collaboration and shared learning;
- To share the latest achievements, innovations, and lessons learned in scaling up and replicating best practices in small-scale fisheries management, governance, livelihood diversification, post-harvest development, climate resilience, gender inclusion, and community empowerment;
- To critically examine emerging issues, gaps, and concerns that influence the replication and sustainability of successful SSF interventions at local, regional, and national levels;
- To facilitate structured knowledge exchange through plenary sessions, special plenary sessions, parallel sessions, special parallel sessions, poster presentation competitions, and oral speed competitions aligned with the symposium’s thematic areas;
- To provide a platform for student engagement, innovation, and the enhancement of creativity through oral speed competitions, student arts competitions, and fishing for solution that highlight emerging perspectives, critical thinking, and future leadership in small-scale fisheries; and
- To generate actionable recommendations and strategic directions that can inform national and local fisheries governance, development planning, and multi-sectoral partnerships.
Announcement
About Us
Too Big To Ignore (TBTI) Philippines, also known as the National Consortium for Small-Scale Fisheries Research and Development, is a national academic and research network that advances knowledge, collaboration, advocacy, and policy engagement on small-scale fisheries in the Philippines. It supports interdisciplinary research, community-based initiatives, and stakeholder partnerships aimed at strengthening the visibility, viability, and sustainability of small-scale fishing communities.
It serves as the Philippine hub of the broader Too Big To Ignore Global network, an international research and knowledge-mobilization partnership that recognizes the critical role of small-scale fisheries in food security, livelihood generation, coastal community resilience, cultural identity, and sustainable aquatic resource governance.
Batangas State University (BatStateU), officially designated as the Philippines’ National Engineering University by virtue of Republic Act No. 11694, stands as the country’s largest engineering institution with over 64,000 students across 12 campuses in CALABARZON. Boasting a 120-year legacy, this Level IV, ISO 9001:2015 certified state university is globally recognized for its academic excellence, holding prestigious ABET accreditations for its engineering, computer science, and information technology programs, alongside multiple CHED Centers of Excellence and Development. Beyond engineering, BatStateU serves as a vital economic and innovation hub, hosting the country's first PEZA-registered Knowledge, Innovation, and Science Technology (KIST) Park and various regional research centers. Strongly committed to the 2030 Global Goals, the university actively integrates environmental stewardship through its Center for Sustainable Development—earning it a spot as the 239th World's Most Sustainable University in the 2025 UI GreenMetric rankings—while simultaneously securing high marks in the 2025 WURI and THE Impact Rankings as a premier institution developing tomorrow's leaders for the global knowledge economy.
Cavite State University (CvSU) is a premier state university in the historic province of Cavite, Philippines. With its main campus in Indang, Cavite and 13 campuses strategically located across the province, CvSU provides excellent, equitable, and relevant educational opportunities in the arts, sciences, and technology. The University is committed to quality instruction, responsive research and development, and meaningful community engagement. Guided by its core values of Truth, Integrity, Excellence, and Service, CvSU aims to develop globally competitive, skilled, and morally upright individuals while contributing to sustainable development and nation-building.
Marinduque State University (MarSU) Marinduque State University, the sole state university in the island province of Marinduque, pursuing the four-fold functions namely instruction, research, extension, and production. It is mandated to primarily provide advance education, higher technological and professional instruction, and training in education, science and technology, engineering, environment, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, arts and sciences, business administration and management, health sciences, and other related disciplines. In addition, the University undertakes research and extension services and provides progressive leadership in its areas of specialization. As the first university in the province, MarSU envisions becoming a globally recognized institution of higher learning, fostering academic excellence through research, innovation, and the advancement of knowledge for sustainable development.
Mindoro State University (MinSU) Established as a state university under Republic Act No. 10596, as amended by Republic Act No. 11006, Mindoro State University (MinSU) traces its roots to the Mindoro National Agricultural School (MINAS), established under Republic Act No. 506 and opened in 1951 with 26 pioneering students. It became the Mindoro College of Agriculture and Technology (MCAT) in 1976 and the Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology (MinSCAT) in 1995. In 2001, MinSCAT expanded through the integration of the Bongabong College of Fisheries and the Polytechnic College of Calapan. On March 16, 2021, the Commission on Higher Education recognized MinSU as a full-fledged university—the first university in Mindoro Island.
Today, MinSU operates three campuses offering 20 undergraduate and six postgraduate programs: the Victoria (Main) Campus, specializing in Agriculture and Allied Fields; the Bongabong Campus, known for Fisheries; and the Calapan City Campus, focused on Technology. The University advances quality instruction, research, innovation, extension, and community engagement to empower Mindoreños and contribute to regional and national development as a globally competitive institution.
Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) is a state-funded higher education institution
in Quezon Province, Philippines, serving 19,000+ students across 10 campuses. Established in
1964 and granted university status in 2007 through Republic Act No. 9395, SLSU is a SUC
Level III institution with Level III institutional accreditation from the Accrediting Agency of
Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines, 100% Certificate of Program
Compliance, and ISO 9001:2015 certification. With established strengths in fisheries,
agriculture, environmental science, community development, and other applied fields, SLSU
advances research, innovation, and community engagement to address regional and national
development challenges.
SLSU is recognized for excellence in national licensure examinations, with its programs
repeatedly earning Top-Performing School recognition and producing board examination
topnotchers in nursing, teacher education, accountancy, engineering, agriculture, fisheries,
psychology, and other professional disciplines. The University also continues to gain global
visibility through the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, UI GreenMetric, and WURI
Global Top 100.
University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Founded in 1909 at the foothills of Mt. Makiling, the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) is an emerging international leader in higher education and one of the country’s highest-ranked universities. Its campus spans more than 1,500 hectares across Los Baños and Bay, Laguna, and serves around 14,000 students annually. UPLB helped establish models for agriculture, forestry, and veterinary education used across the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Today, its programs span these disciplines as well as engineering, environmental management, computer science, development communication, human ecology, economics, and related fields. Its strengths include ISO-certified laboratories, ASEAN University Network–Quality Assurance (AUN-QA)-certified degree programs, centers of excellence, and strong licensure examination results. Following its successful AUN-QA Institutional Assessment in May 2026, UPLB became the country’s first public university to earn this certification. Through teaching, research, innovation, and service, UPLB pursues social transformation and sustainable development in the country.
