CatSU professor joins global ocean congress in France
FacultyDr. Jimmy T. Masagca, Professor VI at the Catanduanes State University College of Agriculture, was among the world scientists who gathered at the One Ocean Science (OOS) Congress held from June 3 to 6 in Nice, France. The congress, organized as a special event of the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), tackled urgent global concerns including the collapse of marine biodiversity, unsustainable fisheries, and the need for stronger science-based action in ocean governance. Masagca, a member of the IUCN Climate Crisis Commission and DA-BFAR’s Scientific Advisory Group, was one of only three Filipino scientists selected by the French Embassy and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) to participate in the high-level event. The other delegates were Dr. Cha Amedo Repollo, Deputy Director of the UP Marine Science Institute, and Dr. Connie Ponce, a chemist from UP Visayas. “I am honored to be a Philippine delegate to the UN Ocean Conference Special Event – One Ocean Congress in Nice, France,” Masagca posted on Facebook. “Thank you to the French Embassy and CNRS for selecting me.” The CatSU professor attended sessions on the IUCN Green List for Protected and Conserved Areas, the impacts of non-selective fisheries, the BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) Agreement and the Great Blue Wall, and the role of science in supporting BBNJ implementation. “Thank you, French Embassy, for sponsoring my travel to Nice, France,” he added. “The benefits are so immense. I have met and expanded connectivity for collaboration—on coastal restoration.” Masagca also leads the CatSU–Bicol University–Aklan State University Tri-University Consortium, which focuses on coastal and marine research in island regions.
