URI's Sarah Gaines (right) and other members of the Fish Right team work with small-scale industrial fishers.
Photo courtesy of Tyler Pavlowich
The University of Rhode Island (URI) Coastal Institute has received $24 million in funding from the U.S. Department of State to continue advancing its fisheries program in the Philippines.
Thanks to this new financial boost, researchers will continue working to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in collaboration with coastal communities, Philippine government agencies, and private-sector partners.
"Through the Fish Right Program, we hope to empower these fishers as trusted observers at sea while improving real-time coordination, reporting capabilities, and access to information for those working on the water," said Elin Torell, Director of the Coastal Institute.
In addition, the program will strengthen efforts in maritime domain awareness, sustainable fisheries management, and international cooperation, while creating opportunities for American and Filipino faculty and students to participate in hands-on research abroad.
"It is a tremendous opportunity for students to learn how to navigate intercultural and political dynamics in addition to their academic work, and for URI to demonstrate its global reach," noted Tyler Pavlowich, Assistant Research Professor.
URI has been collaborating on joint fisheries and coastal management initiatives in the Philippines since the 1980s. This new grant builds on previous funding provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) between 2018 and 2025, which began with a $24 million award and was later supplemented by an additional $8 million extension.
The program's first phase focused on establishing an ecosystem-based fisheries management framework at the regional, municipal, and national levels. Between 2026 and 2028, efforts will expand to strengthen maritime domain awareness through the use of scientific research.
The program will also focus on small-scale commercial fishing fleets operating along the western coast of the Philippines, including areas facing the West Philippine Sea, a region of growing strategic importance.
"Fishing communities help ground-truth our data through real-time observations, while we provide tools and technical support that directly benefit those working at sea," said Sarah Gaines, Director of International Programs at the URI Coastal Institute.
Other organizations collaborating on this initiative include PATH Foundation Philippines Inc., as well as Philippine government agencies such as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the National Maritime Center, together with regional institutions including the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development.
