The academe's programs on applications of carrageenan originated when the then Ministry of Natural Resources funded a project that aimed to develop the processing technology of Eucheuma and other seaweeds. The research funds allowed then, the Marine Science Center to build the Seaweed Chemistry and Pilot Plant Building in 1976. With the facility and expertise available devoted to seaweed research and development, a number of carrageenan application researches were conducted and developed. In the mid-90's, the carrageenan application programs were given boost by the DOST- PCAMRD Program 'STAND Philippines 2000' that funded a number of researches. The research and development program included applications in food, personal care products, and others. Efforts on structure elucidation and molecular modeling of algal polysaccharides have been initiated. Recently, a program on the physico-chemical properties of oligosaccharides derived from carrageenan is being conceptualized to further investigate the properties of the biomolecules and develop more products. Linkages with other research and academic institutions in the country have produced positive results. New non-traditional carrageenan products have been produced. In conclusion, an awareness program on carrageenan and seaweeds among non-seaweed industries, business sector, government sector, and the public in general should be developed to create interest in carrageenan products. The carrageenan applications research in the country needs right environment, adequate funding, state-of-the-art equipment, technical expertise with brilliant and innovative ideas, and support from the academe, industry, and government. Furthermore, research personnel need continuous exposure to knowledge and ideas, just compensation, and proper recognition.

The International Association of Aquatic and Marine Science Libraries and Information Centers (IAMSLIC) through the Aquatic Commons Board approved the deployment of IAMSLIC Digital Fisheries Library in the Philippines during the 2015 Conference. The digital library utilized the LibraryBox, a portable, open source distribution tool. This standalone wireless access is ideal for fisheries schools in the area due to limited or no Internet access and intermittent electrical power conditions. With the aim of providing access to SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department (AQD) publications in these schools, more than a thousand publications that were already made available in SEAFDEC/AQD institutional repository were also added in the box. The box contained over 26,000 publications, reports, articles and documents on all aspects of fisheries that are freely available. SEAFDEC/AQD is the first institution in the country to launch t he project in July 2016 using LibraryBox. Five boxes were distributed in Philippine fisheries libraries devastated by Typhoon Yolanda or hazed by fire. This study examined the factors that influence student’s acceptance and attitude towards the IAMSLIC Digital Fisheries Library. A survey was distributed to selected fisheries and marine biology undergraduate students in the Philippines. Relevance, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, screen design and behavioral intention to use the digital library were determined.

Viral nervous necrosis (VNN), also referred to as viral encephalopathy and retinopathy (VER), has been reported in at least 120 cultured or wild marine and freshwater fish species and has caused serious economic losses among farmed marine fish species in the past decades. Since the first description of this disease at the end of the 1980s, substantial amounts of researches have been instrumental in understanding the mechanisms involved in fish infection, development of reliable diagnostic methods, and disease prevention and control. This chapter presents some important aspects of the disease with particular emphasis on etiologic agent, clinical signs and gross pathology of the disease, histopathology, disease risk factors, virus propagation and identification, molecular diagnostics, and concomitant prevention and control methods.