Mr. Tilapia:  Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero III (center), executive director of the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development—Department of Science and Technology receives the Msgr. Dr. Jan D. F. Heine Memorial Award 2004 from Dr. Kevin Fitzsimmons (left) and Ben Heine (right) during the 2004 ISTA VI Conference held at the Philippine International Convention Center recently.  Dr. Guerrero is the first Filipino and the second international recipient of the award given by the International “Je Dois Faire” Assembly in recognition of his outstanding efforts to stimulate sustained improvement of worldwide human living standards. [S&T Media Service]

Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero wins international tilapia award

Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development executive director Rafael D. Guerrero III received the prestigious Mgr. Dr. Jan D.F. Heine Memorial Award by the International “Je Dois Faire” Assembly “in recognition of his outstanding efforts to stimulate sustained improvement of world wide human living standards.”

Dr. Guerrero was recognized for his pioneering work on tilapia sex reversal technology that contributed significantly to world aquaculture.  Cultured tilapia has become a global food commodity and is now the second most important farmed fish.

Tilapia is a leading source of affordable animal protein in poor countries where malnutrition among children is a serious problem, Tilapia International Foundation president Ben Hiene said. 

“Where small children do not eat sufficient animal protein everyday, they will suffer the consequences for the rest of their lives,” he added.

The Mgr. Dr. Jan D.F. Heine Memorial Award is conferred to internationally recognized individual who has worked for the advancement of tilapia science and has also made an impact on the lives of people in developing countries dependent on fish as a major source of animal protein.

 Heine and World Aquaculture Society president Kevin Fitzsimmons conferred the award to Dr. Guerrero during the 6th International Symposium on Tilapia in Aquaculture recently held in Manila.

Dr. Guerrero began initial studies on tilapia sex reversal process for his doctoral dissertation at Auburn University in the USA in early 1970s.  He later continued the work at the Central Luzon State University in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija where he served as the first dean of its college of fisheries. 

In the 1980s, Dr. Guerrero with wife Luzviminda formed a research and development company for the commercial production of tilapia sex reversal feed for easy application of the technology by fishfarmers.  With the technology, fishfarmers produce high yields of fast growing large-sized all-male tilapia.

Dr. Guerrero also previously received national awards such as the Rizal Pro Patria, Ten Outstanding Young Men, and IBM Science and Technology award for his outstanding contributions to fisheries and aquaculture in the country and for pioneering in the commercialization of the tilapia sex reversal technology in the world.  He is an academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology.