The Philippines has one of the world’s richest ecosystems, characterized by extensive coral reefs, sea-grass beds and dense mangroves.

The past three decades have seen the rapid decline of the Philippine coastal ecosystem --70% of the mangroves

and 20% of its sea-grass are destroyed; nearly 90% of coral

reefs are under threat; and biomass of coastal fish stocks is

only 10%-30% of its state in 1940s.4 4 WorldFish Report 2010/11

The WorldFish Center, also known as the International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management or ICLARM, is an international research organization dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger by improving fisheries and aquaculture. 

As of 2011, the WorldFish Center has collaborated with 78 institutions, both public and private, in the Philippines: • Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources• Bureau of Agricultural Research• Department of Science and Technology• Freshwater Aquaculture Center/Central Luzon State University•University of the Philippines

The Center will contribute to our efforts in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on poverty reduction and hunger elimination.