The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has announced a PHP2 million grant for a researcher from the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines - Diliman. The funding, drawn from the DOST Secretary's Grant for Environment, will support Rachel June Ravago-Gotanco's study on sea cucumber biodiversity.
Grant Details and Recognition
The grant recognizes Gotanco's outstanding scientific contributions to environmental protection and conservation. Her research proposal underwent evaluation by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), which also provided an additional PHP150,000 award. The study focuses on the implications of sea cucumbers for aquaculture, fishery management, and conservation.
Ecological Importance of Sea Cucumbers
Sea cucumbers are high-value marine invertebrates that were once abundant in Philippine coastal waters. They are valued for their food, ecological, and pharmaceutical benefits. Often called “earthworms of the sea,” they burrow and ingest sediments, promoting healthy coastal ecosystems.
Gotanco explained that her team used genetic data from sea cucumbers collected across the Philippine archipelago. They employed high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies to generate and analyze the data. This information is crucial for evidence-based management and conservation of sea cucumber populations in the country.
Future Research Directions
“We are still continuing the research on these sea cucumbers, but we are also branching out with other colonies, other species of sea cucumbers,” Gotanco said in a news release. The ongoing work aims to expand knowledge on various sea cucumber species to support sustainable fisheries and biodiversity conservation.
