Dr. Benjamin Jareta Gonzales: The Multi-Specialist

By
Melchor F. Cichon
August 24, 2006
Updated: May 14, 2009

It’s breathtaking looking at the full-pack 22-page bio-data of Dr. Benjamin J. Gonzales.

In a span of 25 years from the time he graduated from his B.S. Fisheries at the College of Fisheries, U.P. (now College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, UP in the Visayas) until this time as Vice President for Research, Extension, and Development of the Western Philippines University,he has accomplished so much specially on fisheries resource management.

He has published 7 books and booklets, 5 chapters of different books, 21 journal articles, four brochures, 2 magazine articles, and 3 unpublished papers, and 4 papers presented in symposia. He has held various administrative posts and has conducted numerous researches.

He has practically visited the whole Philippines from Aparri to General Santos and has gone to Canada and Japan either as a resource person or a presenter/lecturer.

He too has been a member of the following scientific organizations:

Aquaculture Society of Japan, 1995
Asian Fisheries Society, 1997
Federation of Institutions of Marine Science and Fisheries, 2004
Ichthyological Society of Japan, 1993
Japanese Society of Fisheries Science, 1995
Kurosho Sphere, 1994
Network for Tropical Fisheries Scientist, 1996

Dr. Gonzales was born in Iloilo City on September 13, 1957. His mother is a retired principal of UP High School in Iloilo where he also graduated. After finishing high school, the young Benjamin took a fisheries degree at the College of Fisheries in Diliman, Quezon City, majoring in Marine Fisheries.

Four events and motivations led him to take up fisheries.

1. His inherent love for fishes. During his early high school days, he loved to observe fishes in the aquarium. He was curious on how they sleep, their food preferences, how they breed, etc.

2. When he saw in the newspaper the photograph of the R/V Albacore, the then newly acquired research vessel of UP College of Fisheries, he told himself that one day he would board this ship.

3. He was motivated by the success of his uncle in his fisheries career.

4. He was inspired by the macho and tough image of fishermen.

After graduation he worked as a checker at the Milita Shipyard, Malabon, Metro Manila. Then he worked as a fisherman and net mender at Ricsan Development Corporation, Navotas, Metro Manila. On 1982 to 1987, he worked as a fishery industry specialist at Palawan National Agricultural College Regional Institute of Fisheries Technology.

He then took his master of science at Koichi University in Japan in 1994 majoring in marine biology. Three years after that, he received his Ph. D. in fish ecology and population genetics at Ehime University, Japan.. His dissertation is entitled: Ecological and genetic studies on the biodiversity of dragonets (Gobiesociformes: Callionymidae) in Southwestern Japan.

It was in Japan where his expertise in various aspects of fisheries was developed.

Let us hear directly from him:

"Dr. Benjamin Gonzales is a Fisheries and Coastal Resource Management Specialist, a full-fledged professor, scientist/researcher, and an academician.

"He works extensively on various aspects of the coastal resource management since 1989.

"Dr. Gonzales specializes in studies of biodiversity of fishes and integrated coastal resource management, which include resource assessments, resource protection and rehabilitation, and project impact assessments.

"He was engaged as Fisheries and Coastal Management Adviser and Integrated Coastal Resource Management Specialist in the ADB and JBIC funded BFAR-Fisheries Resource Management Project for six years.

"Also behind him is his four-year experience in a co-management project in coastal resources in partnership with the Marine Institute International of the Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, which included a cross study visit regarding Professionalization of Fisheries and Implications of Fisheries Science to Fisheries Management in Canada.

"He also works as researcher for fish visual census in coral reefs.

"His works in CRM, particularly, on integrated coastal resource protection and rehabilitation gained popularity not only in Palawan, but also in other regions of the country, Bicol and Caraga.

"He served as adviser, consultant, project leader, team leader, and researcher in many fish and coastal and marine resource conservation and development projects, including island resources, bay environmental profile, and coastal resource assessments.

"He headed numerous coastal resource projects funded by both local and foreign agencies and documents his experiences, gained skills, and knowledge in numerous books, manuals, and papers which he authored, "Palawan Foodfishes", "Honda Bay Fisheries Management", "Puerto Bay and Honda Bay, Palawan: an Ecological Profile", "Healing Nature with ICRM, Implementor’s Perspective", etc. His complete list of publications can be found at the end of this write-up.

"He administered and organized uncountable local and national CRM related workshops, and international workshops on CRM-Philippines funded by CIDA.

"He also contributed as author to chapters of several CRM books.

"Dr. Gonzales has long teaching experience in subjects both in graduate and undergraduate school of the Western Philippines University: Study of fishes, fishing gears and technology, marine ecology, fisheries management, and population genetics.

"He organized and facilitated the workshop with his colleagues that lead to the drafting of six instructional manuals for different subjects in B. S. Fisheries Program. He spearheaded the accreditation of the B. S. Fisheries Program to become the Center of Excellence (COE) in Fisheries Education in Region IV.

"Dr. Gonzales was responsible for the creation of the Aquatic Biology Program of WPU, which is now gaining recognition for research. He also initiated the development of the M. Sc. in Marine Biology Program now offered at WPU.

"He served in the academe as Department Head, Chairman-on-Instruction, Officer-in-Charge, Campus Dean, and Vice President on Research and Extension."

"Dr. Gonzales has received various recognition and appreciation certificates for his contributions to fish conservation, coastal resource conservation and rehabilitation from: communities, LGUs, Regional Offices of BFAR, and the Academe.

"He was also featured in some books for his achievements in his field of expertise."

It cannot be denied that Dr. Gonzales has accomplished so much, yet he still wishes to do something more. He hopes to accomplish bigger book projects, maintain a wholesome family, and create a situation that warrants never ending research.

This is in line with his philosophy in life that knowledge has no boundaries, like human has and that we exist in this world for a purpose.

Here are some of the awards received by Dr. Gonzales:

3rd Best Research Paper, 10th Southern Luzon Zonal R and D Review, Ateneo de Manila University, November 10, 2006

Best Research Paper, 12th Southern Luzon R and D review, Southern Luzon State University, December 4, 2008

3rd Best Research Paper, National Aquatic Resources Research and Development System, PCAMRD, los Banos, Laguna, january 10, 2009
Outstanding Faculty member of WPU-PPC (2008-2009), Western Philippines University, Aborlan, Palawan, February 25, 2009.

The following are his publications that he authored and co-authored with other fisheries specialists.

Books

Gonzales, B. J. 2000. Palawan Foodfishes. Palawan Sustainable Development Communications, Corp. 90 pages.

Gonzales, B. J. and J. E. Santa Ana. 2002. Solid Waste Management Training Manual for Local Government, FRMP information paper no. 66. Fisheries Resource Management Project, Bureau of Fisheries and AquaticResources. Department of Agriculture, Quezon City, Philippines. 78 p.

Gonzales, B. J. 2004. Puerto Princesa Bay and Honda Bay: an ecologicalprofile. FRMP Technical Monograph Series, No. 8 (Ablaza, E C. eds.).Fisheries Resource Management Project, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Department of Agriculture, Quezon City, Philippines. 28 p.

Gonzales, B. J. 2005. A Guide to species selection and principles of stock enhancement in the Philippines (Roldan, R., Ablaza, E. C., Muñoz, J.C., eds.). Fisheries Resource Management Project, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Department of Agriculture, Quezon City, Philippines. 27 p.

Gonzales, B. J. 2005. Palawan Foodfishes, 2nd Ed. BFAR-Fisheries Resource Management Project-Philippine Information Agency, Quezon City Philippines. 100 p.

Gonzales, B. J. and A. L. Avillanosa. 2006. Lecture manuela on fish genetics (T. Abella, ed.). College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Western Philippines University, Puerto Princesa City, Philippines, 63p.

Pagliawan, H. B., H.P. Palla, and B. J. Gonzales. 2006. lecture manual in fishing technology (Fish 130) (Gonzales, B, J., ed.) College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Western Philippines University, Puerto Princesa City, Philippines. 63 p.

Book Chapters
Gonzales, B. J. 1999. Species diversity of dragonet fishes along thebathymetrical gradient of Tosa Bay, Japan. Proceedings of the symposium on marine biodiversity in Visayas and Mindanao. W.L. Campos, Ed.. Univ. Phils. in the Vis. 69-73.

Gonzales, B. J. 2004. Fisheries management in Honda Bay, p. 305-311. In DA-BFAR (Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources). In turbulent seas: The status of Philippine marine fisheries. Coastal Resource Management Project, Cebu City, Philippines, 378 p.

Gonzales, B. J. 2005. Community-based stock enhancement of topshell in Honda Bay, Palawan, Philippines. In Report of regional consultation on stock enhancement of species under international concern. Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), AQD., Iloilo City, Philippines, July 13-15, 2005. XX p (in press.)

Gonzales, B. J. 2005. Basic taxonomy and biology of fishes, p. 97-112. In A handbook on fishery law enforcement team training. Fisheries Resource Management Project, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Department of Agriculture, Quezon City, Philippines, 190 p.

Gonzales, B. J. and E. T. Bhagwani. 2005. Healing nature with ICRM. In Faces of the Sea Implementors’ Perspective, M. A. D. Pascua Ed., p. 7-16. Fisheries Resource Management Project, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Philippine Information Office. Department of Agriculture, Quezon City, Philippines, 60 p.

Gonzales, b. J., W. M Galon and J. G. Becira. 2006. Community-based stock enhancement of topshell in Honda Bay, Palawan, Philippines, pp. 49-59. In: Proceedings of the regional technical consultation on stock enhancement for threatened species of international concern. Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), Tigbauan 5021, Iloilo, Philippines. 150p.


Papers in Journal
Gonzales, B.J. 1993. The Department of Agriculture. Rep. Inst. Kuroshi Sphere, Kochi Univ., 8: 12-19.

Gonzales, B.J., O. Okamura, K. Nakamura and H. Miyahara. 1994. New
Record of annular sole, Synaptura annularis (Soliedae, Pleuronectiformes) from Japan. Jap. J. Ichthyol., 40: 491-494.

Mishina H. and B.J.Gonzales. 1994. Some biological and ecological aspects on Cromileptes altivelis around Palawan Island, Philippines. Bull. Jap. Aqua. Soc., 42: 345-349. (In Japanese with English abstract.)

Gonzales, B.J.,R.G. Dolorosa, R. Blanco, O. Okamura and T. Maeda. 1994. An artificially made seagrass bed: Its ecological role in a shallow subtidal zone and probable consequences. Bull. Mar. Sci. Fish., Kochi Univ., 14: 57-61.

Gonzales, B.J. and R.G. Dolorosa. 1994. A survey of the serranid and lutjanid fishes in Ulugan Bay, Northwestern Palawan, with notes on their economic aspects. PNAC- Inst. Mar. Sci. Res. J., 1: 32-40.

Gonzales, B.J. and O. Okamura. 1995. Rare occurrence of Bathycallionymus formosanus (Teleostei: Callionymidae) in Tosa Bay. Southern Japan, with ecological notes and recent list of callionymids in the Bay. SPCP-Inst. Mar. Sci. Res. J., 2: 28-36.

Gonzales, B.J. and N. Taniguchi. 1995. Spiny lobster- fishery in Palawan, Philippines: with considerations on its conservation and Management. Bull. Mar. Sci. Fish., Kochi Univ., 15: 121-130.

Gonzales, B.J., O. Okamura and N. Taniguchi. 1996. Spawning behavior of laboratory-reared dragonet, Repomucenus huguenini, and development of its eggs and prolarvae. Suisanzoshoku (Bull. Jap. Aqua. Soc.), 44: 7-15.

Gonzales, B.J., N. Taniguchi and S. Seki. 1996. Genetic markers for twelve species, five genera of dragonets (Gobiesociformes: Callionymidae) revealed through Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Assay. Fish Genetics and Breeding Science, No. 23: 75-83.

Gonzales, B.J., N. Taniguchi, O. Okamura and Y. Machida. 1996. Diet and Feeding Bahavior of two dragonets Calliurichthys japonicus and Repomucenus huguenini in Tosa Bay, Southern Japan. Fisheries Science, 62: 902-908.

Gonzales, B.J. and N. Watanuki. 1996. Mangrove shoreline fishes of Ulugan Bay, Palawan. SPCP-IMS Res. Journal, SPCP-IMS, 3: 1-10.

Gonzales, B.J., N. Taniguchi, and O. Okamura. 1997. Spawning cycle of two dragonets Calliurichthys japonicus and Repomucenus huguenini in Tosa Bay, Southern Japan. Fisheries Science, 63: 15-21.

Gonzales, B.J. and T.L. Salva. 1997. A larged-sized giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (DeMan) from Dumaran Palawan. SPCP-IMS Res. Journal, SPCP-IMS, 4: 20-24.

Gonzales, B.J. 1997. Five commonly used fishing gears by small-scale fishermen in Palawan, Philippines and some of their implications to fishery management. SPCP- Aqua. Sci. Tech. Inst. Res. J.
Salva, T.L. and B.J. Gonzales. 1997. The SPCP-ASTI initiatives in the Coastal Resource Management of Palawan, Philippines. SPCP- Aqua. Sci. Tech. Inst. Res. J.

Gonzales, B.J. and N. Taniguchi. 1997. Habitat and reproductive traits similarities of dragonet fishes in Tosa Bay, Japan, with notes on their evolutionary history, Bull. Mar. Sci. and Fish, Kochi Univ., 17: 89-96.

Gonzales, B.J., S. Seki, and N. Taniguchi. 1997. Genetic relationships among thirteen species of dragonets (Gobiesociformes: Callionymidae) inferred from allozyme markers, Bull. Mar. Sci. and Fish, Kochi Univ., 17: 97-107.

Gonzales, B. J. 2000. Length-weight relationship of five serranids from Palawan Island, Philippines. Naga, the ICLARM Quarterly. 23, 3: 26-28.

Galon, W., B. J Gonzales, and Becira, J. 2005. Impact assessment of topshell stock enhancement in Honda Bay, Palawan. A paper presented during the Annual Convention of the Federation of Institutions for Marine and Freshwater Sciences (FIMFS), Mindanao State University, Naawan, October 14-16, 2005.

Becira, J., B. J Gonzales, and W. Galon. 2006. Protected versus unprotected area with reference to fishes, corals, macro- invertebrates, and CPUE in Honda Bay, Palawan. The Palawan Scientist, West. Phils. Univ. XX: XX-XX. (in press)

Watanuki, N. and B. J. Gonzales. 2006. The potential of artificial reefs as fisheries management tools in developing countries. Bulletin of Marine Science, 78 (1): 9-19.

Gonzales, B. J., W. Galon, and J. Becira. 2006. Community-based stock enhancement of topshell in Honda Bay, Palawan, Philippines. Report on the regional technical consultation on stock enhancement of species under international concern. SEAFDEC, AQD. (in press)

Mishina, H., B. J. gonzales, H. b. Pagliawan, M. Moteki and H. Kohno. 2006. reproductive biology of blacktip grouper, Epinephelus fasciatus, in sulu Sea, Philippines. Extrait de La mer (Bulletin de la Societe franco-japonaise d'oceanographie). Tome 44, Nummero 1 Fevrier 2006.

Gonzales, b. J. and M. V. Matillano. 2008. Irrawaddy dolphin conservation in the fisheries of Malampaya Inner Sound, Palawan, Philippines. Memoirs of Faculty of Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Faculty of Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima Japan. Special issue 2008: 16-25.

Brochures:

Gonzales, B. J. 1997. Ang Lapu- lapung Senyorita. SPCP-ASTI Information Series No. 1, June 1997.

Dolorosa, R.G. and B.J. Gonzales 1998. Information on the Giant Freshwater Prawn, Ulang. SPCP-ASTI Information Series No. 1, June 1998.

Gonzales, B. J. 2005. Facts about Topshell. Fisheries Resource Management Project-DA-BFAR (Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) Estuar Building, Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.

Gonzales, B. J. 2005. Impact Assessment of Fish Sanctuary in Binduyan, Honda Bay. Fisheries Resource Management Project-DA-BFAR (Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) Estuar Building, Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.

Articles

Gonzales, B.J. 2001. Measuring the threat to fish species and populations.Sagip Dagat Bulletin. DA-BFAR, FRMP.4th: 8-9.

Gonzales, B.J. 2002. Trochus restocking as enhancement intervention. Sagip Dagat Bulletin. DA-BFAR, FRMP. 2nd: 11-13.

Unpublished

Gonzales, B. J., W. Galon, F. Galon, J. Becira, H. Pagliawan, E. Rodriguez, G. Bactol, and R. Venturillo. 2005. Resource Assessment for fish sanctuary establishment, St. Paul’s Bay, Western Palawan, Philippines. SAGUDA Palawan, Inc. Puerto Princesa City, Philippines.

Gonzales, B. J. 2005. Facts about five fishes: with reference to their acceptability as cage culture species in Palawan, Philippines. Jeon Chon Fisheries and Agriculture Product Corporation and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, Palawan, Philippines.

Gonzales, B. J, Pagliawan, H, and Rodriguez, E. 2005. Diversity and Catalogue of Palawan Fishes, Philippines. A paper presented as poster during the Annual Symposium of the Philippine Association of Marine Science, Palawan State University, Palawan, October 20-22, 2005.

Gonzales, B.J. R. S. Sariego, W. Galon, H. Pagliawan, J. Becira, I. M. P. Benliro, E. Rodriguez, Bernaldo Montaño, and N. Dieron. Pandan island resource assessment: with recommendations for conservation and developmental planning. Western Philippines University and the Legend Hotels International. 56p.