A recent study on sea cucumber biodiversity and its implications for aquaculture, fishery management, and conservation in the Philippines was named the 2026 NAST Environmental Science Awardee, given by the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) on Wednesday.
A photo of Holothuria scabra also known as ‘sandfish’ —one of the most high-value species of sea cucumber. (Photo from the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC))
The recognition was received by Filipino researcher Dr. Rachel June Ravago-Gotanco from the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines-Diliman.
“It’s an honor to be selected as this year’s awardee for the environmental science award, and this means a big deal for us working in biodiversity science. We actually do a lot of research on not just biological biodiversity, but also a lot of other research in the marine sciences. Being recognized for this award also means being recognized for the impact of the research on the environment,” Dr. Ravago-Gotanco said in an interview.
According to the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture and Aquatic Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), Holothuria scabra, commonly known as sea cucumbers, are high-value marine invertebrates that used to abound in the country’s coastal waters. They are well-known as food and are highly recognized for their ecological and pharmaceutical values.
While sea cucumbers are commonly overlooked, Dr. Ravago-Gotanco said it plays an important role in the marine ecosystem. Sea cucumbers are known as “earthworms of the sea” because of their habits of burrowing and ingesting sediments, which promotes healthy coastal ecosystems.
“Protecting the sea cucumbers—not just [the] sandfish and in general, marine organisms that have a vital role in maintaining sediment and water quality, means protecting also the environmental benefits they provide. The loss of sea cucumbers also impacts the ecosystem, services they provide,” Dr. Ravago-Gotanco said.
Dr. Ravago-Gotanco’s work focuses on integrating molecular biology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, and marine science to build a foundation of knowledge, actions, and solutions to sustain and protect the country’s marine biodiversity.
In her winning entry titled, “Complex patterns of genetic structure in the sea cucumber Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra from the Philippines: implications for aquaculture and fishery management,” Dr. Ravago-Gotanco generated genetic data of sea cucumbers in the country, specifically the ‘sandfish’ species.
“In the work that we did, we used genetic data from sea cucumbers collected from all over the Philippine archipelago. We did high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies to generate that data, and we analyzed it. How populations, how that genetic variation is distributed in space across the different species of sea cucumbers. And in doing so, we were actually able to delineate different management units for genetically distinct stocks,” Dr. Ravago-Gotanco said.
She said this data would have important implications for evidence-based management and conservation of sea cucumber populations in the country.
Moving forward to protect sea cucumbers and their environmental benefits, Dr. Ravago-Gotanco recommends evidence-based management and policy support for regional management plans and trade regulations, among others.
“We always look for what is the next step or what is the future of this research. So, we are still continuing the research on these sea cucumbers in general, but we are also branching out with other colonies, other species of sea cucumbers,” she said.
Recognized as this year’s winner, Dr. Ravago-Gotanco received a plaque of recognition and a monetary award of P150,000 from NAST PHL.
She is also entitled to receive a P2 million research grant from the DOST Secretary’s Grant for Environment, which will be released upon the formal approval of her proposal.
“The NAST Environmental Science Award represents the scientific community’s contribution to the celebration of Earth Day. It underscores the importance of advancing environmental protection and conservation efforts both locally and globally,” NAST President and Academician Dr. Jaime C. Montoya said.
The awarding ceremony on April 22 was also in time for the Earth Day celebration.
The NESA is an award intended to recognize outstanding scientific and technological research work that contributes to environmental protection and conservation. It is one of the many initiatives of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) aimed at providing science-based, innovative, and inclusive solutions across four strategic pillars: human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability. These pillars embody the mantra OneDOST4U: Solutions and Opportunities for All. For more information, visit www.dost.gov.ph
Dr. Rachel June Ravago-Gotanco from the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines-Diliman presents her study on sea cucumbers and their implications for aquaculture and fishery management and conservation on April 22, 2026, during the NAST Environmental Science Awarding ceremony at Admiral Hotel, Manila. (Photo by Xyrus Ivan B. De Gracia)
