International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management

International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management
Name	International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management
Formation	1975
Type	International research center
Headquarters	Los Baños, Laguna
Leader title	Director General
Parent organization	Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
Region served	Global

International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management The International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management is an international research institution focused on aquatic resource science, conservation, and sustainable development. Established in 1975, the center engages in applied research, policy support, and capacity building across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Its work intersects with international organizations, national agencies, and academic institutions to influence fisheries management, aquaculture, and coastal ecosystem restoration.

History

The center was founded in 1975 during a period of expanding international cooperation among organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, and the World Bank. Early milestones involved collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute and the Asian Development Bank to address inland fisheries in the Philippines and the Southeast Asian region. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the center expanded partnerships with the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and national ministries in Indonesia, Bangladesh, and India to implement community-based management models. In the 2000s it aligned research priorities with frameworks developed by the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Millennium Development Goals, later adjusting to the Sustainable Development Goals and collaborations with the WorldFish Center and the Stockholm Environment Institute.

Mission and Objectives

The center's mission emphasizes sustainable use and management of aquatic living resources in support of livelihoods, food security, and biodiversity. Objectives include promoting ecosystem-based fisheries management aligned with targets from the Convention on Biological Diversity, informing policy instruments used by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, and advancing aquaculture practices referenced by the World Organisation for Animal Health. It seeks to deliver evidence for national strategies used by agencies such as the Department of Agriculture (Philippines), the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (Bangladesh), and the Government of Indonesia.

Research and Programs

Research programs span inland fisheries, coastal fisheries, aquaculture, and aquatic biodiversity. Projects have used methods from institutions like the Smithsonian Institution, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography to study mangrove restoration in collaboration with the Mangrove Action Project, coral reef resilience with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and stock assessment techniques shared with the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Programs address small-scale fisheries common in regions covered by the Commonwealth of Nations and frame adaptive management approaches consistent with reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The center has developed decision-support tools used by agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization and the European Commission for regional fisheries management organizations like ICES and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.

Capacity Building and Training

Capacity activities include short courses, postgraduate fellowships, and training-of-trainers delivered with universities such as the University of the Philippines Los Baños, the University of British Columbia, and James Cook University. Training topics reflect guidance from the World Health Organization on aquaculture biosecurity, technical standards from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, and governance models promoted by the Asian Development Bank. Participants have included staff from national agencies in Vietnam, Cambodia, Kenya, and Peru and professionals connected to multilateral programs run by the United Nations Development Programme and the African Union.

Governance and Funding

Governance has involved a board comprising representatives from donor governments, research partners, and international agencies such as the Rockefeller Foundation and the Ford Foundation. Core funding has historically come from bilateral donors including Japan International Cooperation Agency, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, and the Australian Aid program, supplemented by project grants from the European Commission and contracts with the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. Financial oversight aligns with protocols employed by organizations like the International Monetary Fund for grant reporting and auditing.

Partnerships and Global Impact

The center has partnered with global entities including the Food and Agriculture Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, WorldFish, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature to influence regional fisheries policy and aquaculture certification schemes. Its contributions have informed national policy reforms in countries such as Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, Mozambique, and Peru and have been cited in assessments by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. The center's outreach has supported community resilience projects funded by the Global Environment Facility and capacity initiatives tied to the Green Climate Fund.

Category:International research institutes Category:Fisheries and aquaculture organizations