The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) and the British Embassy Manila have partnered to co-host the Seafood and Fisheries Emerging Technologies (SAFET) Conference 2026, set from Sept. 8 to 10 in Cebu.
The event will bring together world-leading expertise from the UK’s Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) with on-ground operational experience from the Philippines to advance sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, responsible seafood sourcing, blue finance linked to marine protected areas, and emerging opportunities from marine energy.
The partnership underscores a shared commitment between the Philippines and the UK to tackle probably the most pressing challenges facing the Indo-Pacific fisheries sector.
“SAFET 2026 reflects the Philippines’ commitment to constructing a contemporary fisheries sector where technology directly advantages each people and the environment. Through collaboration with global partners, we aim to speed up practical innovations that strengthen fisheries governance, improve seafood traceability, conserve marine resources, and create higher opportunities for our fisherfolk and coastal communities,” said BFAR National Director Elizer Salilig.
“We welcome our partners from all over the world to affix us in Cebu as we work together to show innovation into meaningful motion,” said Inga Smart, SAFET Executive Director.
“We cannot solve the complex challenges facing our oceans in silos. The SAFET Conference is a novel convergence point where market-driven technology meets government initiative. By bringing global tech innovators to the table alongside fisheries authorities, we’re fostering the precise partnerships needed to construct transparent, resilient seafood supply chains and secure thriving coastal livelihoods for the longer term,” she added.
Through SAFET 2026, BFAR and the British Embassy Manila will facilitate dialogue that features coastal communities, technology developers, and policy-makers, ensuring that recent tools are accessible, scalable, and tailored to the needs of the local fisheries sector.
“The challenges facing global fisheries require stronger partnerships and smarter solutions. SAFET 2026 provides a novel platform where governments, scientists, technology innovators, industry leaders, and fishing communities can work together to rework promising technologies into practical actions that strengthen the fisheries sector. We’re proud that the Philippines is hosting this vital global conversation and invite everyone to affix us in shaping the longer term of sustainable fisheries,” said Philippine Agriculture Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Esther Bayate.
Advancing the Digital Shift
SAFET’s conference theme “From Innovation to Implementation: Powering Responsible Fisheries, Markets, and Livelihoods,” reflects the Philippine fisheries sector’s shift from manual processes to a comprehensive digital ecosystem.
BFAR is currently leading this transition by deploying cutting-edge tools, amongst them the Electronic Catch Documentation and Traceability System (eCDTS) and the Fisheries Integrated Information Management Center-Vessel Monitoring System (FIIMC-VMS).
By integrating the newest technologies corresponding to artificial intelligence, satellite remark, and IoT-enabled monitoring, the Bureau is actively strengthening law enforcement, combatting illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and ensuring that Philippine seafood meets the very best international trade standards.
Because the Philippines advances its digital transformation, SAFET 2026 reaffirms the country’s growing leadership in science-based fisheries management and its commitment to constructing a resilient, transparent, and prosperous future for all Filipino stakeholders.
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