The Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing the use of digital tools and vulnerability mapping to help protect small-scale fishers from the growing threats of climate change.
Dr. Mudjekeewis Santos, Scientist V at the DA–National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) said on Friday, October 24, that climate change is already disrupting marine ecosystems and fish populations through rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and erratic weather.
He said identifying where fisheries are most at risk is crucial in planning local responses.
“Climate change is real,” Santos said, noting the need to pinpoint vulnerabilities “so we’ll know what to do about them.”
He cited findings showing climate impacts on milkfish, freshwater eel, and giant squid — species vital to the country’s food supply chain.
To address these risks, Santos underscored the DA’s available digital tools: FishVool, the DA Planner Portal, and the Climate Risk Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) system.
According to him, FishVool serves as an assessment tool to measure fisheries’ exposure to climate change, while the Planner Portal provides data-based planning support.
The CRVA, used under the Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FISHCORE) Project, helps assess risk levels for crops and fisheries.
Santos said small fishers remain “the poorest of them all” even without climate disruptions, adding that their condition could worsen without proactive intervention.
He urged agencies and communities to make information accessible and act on available tools to build climate resilience.
“We need to inform and prepare people,” he said, emphasizing that “climate change is here” and response must be immediate.
Santos’ statements came after the 2nd Philippines Small-Scale Fisheries National Symposium (PSSFNS2) held on October 22 at Mindanao State University in Marawi City.
The symposium gathered scientists, policymakers, and fisheries stakeholders to strengthen local adaptation and promote sustainable, climate-smart fisheries management nationwide.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.