The College of Fisheries-Central Luzon State University (CF-CLSU), in collaboration with selected students, volunteers, and Student Organizations (SOs), took the lead in organizing a clean-up operation and ecological assessment of Balante Creek, situated in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, on September 23, 2023.
Participating students came from various academic backgrounds, including those enrolled in Fisheries Management, Aquatic Invertebrates, Aquatic Ecology, Ichthyology, and Introduction to Inland Fisheries. Concurrently, SOs members from Alpha Sigma Phi, Ichthyological Society, CF-Student Government, CF-Graduate Students Association, and the Association of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources scholars attended the activity. Faculty members, including Dr. Lorenz J. Fajardo, Acting Dean of CF and Chair of SDG 14, Dr. Alvin T. Reyes, Department Head of Aquatic Post-Harvest, Asst. Prof. Junard A. Catabay, Mr. Aries Paul D. Padron, and Ms. Cherry Ann G. Kindipan, also joined this initiative.
This collaborative effort was undertaken in support of SDG 14: Life Below Water, with the overarching goal of preserving and sustainably utilizing water bodies for the sake of sustainable development. The 1.2 km stretch of the Balante Creek that run in Barangay Sikat was freed from solid waste. In terms of the ecological assessment, the creek was divided into four sampling stations to facilitate on-site collection and analysis of water samples, as well as the identification of fish species, macrobenthos, aquatic insects, and vegetations. Additional water samples were collected for plankton identification and microbiological assessment, which took place in the laboratory.
The outcomes of this study will be shared with the neighboring barangays situated along the creek, providing them with valuable information to guide appropriate management actions.
