After finishing high school, I attended the University of the Philippines
and earned a B.S. in aquaculture. It was during this time that we organized
the university's aquarium society.
A few years later I took courses in marine biology at the same university
and found out I had fulfilled the requirements for the M.S. in marine
science degree. I did a thesis on polyculture systems for giant clam
Tridacna gigas culture.
Right now I'm still an aquarist, concentrating on coral reef aquarium
systems. I'm participating with the Philippines' professional aquarium
society program on the captive propagation of reef corals. I also keep
African cichlids.
I work with the International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management
(ICLARM) in Manila. I'm with the Coral Reef Resource Systems Program. My
main line of living aquatic resources research in on the global aquarium
trade, focusing of course on the reef associated marine aquarium trade.
However I keep a keen interest on what's happening with the freshwater side.
The aquarium trade utilizes around 40-50% of fish biodiversity of value to
humans. With this in mind, the loss of biodiversity will undoubtly affect
the trade. I will be very grateful if readers will help me get more
information and documentation on the trade.
Thanks
Ben