To assess the mariculture carrying capacity of Sibutad, a coastal municipality in Zamboanga del Norte, an inception meeting and capacity-building workshop were conducted on April 9–11, 2025, in Dipolog City. Spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture–National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI) through the Fisheries and Coastal Resilience (FISHCORE) project under the FishCRRM Subcomponent 1.2, the activity brought together representatives from key stakeholder institutions for collaborative planning and capacity building.

Participants included technical personnel from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – 9 Regional Fisheries Laboratory (BFAR 9 RFL), Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Sibutad, BFAR–Provincial Fisheries Office (PFO) in Dipolog, and members of the Bantay Dagat. Their involvement underscores the multisectoral approach adopted in addressing the complexities of mariculture management.

Myleen Magistrado, designated alternate focal person for FishCRRM 1.2, presented a comprehensive overview of the mariculture carrying capacity assessment framework including the delineation of sampling stations for water and sediment collection, bathymetric mapping, and ocean current profiling. These parameters are critical in evaluating the ecological thresholds and sustainability of aquaculture operations within the designated marine area.

The members of the project team facilitated technical lectures detailing the assessment’s methodological framework, including site selection criteria, sampling protocols, and data analysis procedures. Deliberations among stakeholders highlighted prevailing constraints, particularly the lack of baseline data and the need for continuous ecological monitoring to come up with science-based mariculture management.

As part of the initial field activities, the training culminated in the successful execution of the first sampling operation. This included in-situ collection of water and sediment samples, real-time assessments of water quality and nutrient levels, as well as bathymetric and hydrodynamic (current) profiling. These datasets will serve as foundational inputs for subsequent analyses aimed at determining the ecological carrying capacity of the site.

Through an inter-agency collaboration, this initiative aims to generate empirical evidence to support policy formulation and promote the long-term sustainability and resilience of mariculture in the region. ### (Jenny Rose Gracian)