24 MARCH 2026 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG for Agricultural Development (SAAD) and the Fisheries Livelihood Support Program (FLSP), both of which could be leveraged for women-led aquaculture, fish processing, and rehabilitation of degraded habitats. On a broader scale, the Asian Development Bank’s Blue Economy initiatives, particularly those under its climate resilience portfolio, offer grant-based opportunities that align with Sasmuan’s Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) strategies. Likewise, DENR’s Enhanced National Greening Program (ENGP) supports mangrove rehabilitation tied to community livelihood, while DOST–PCAARRD’s aquaculture R&D grants can catalyze innovation in low-impact shrimp and crab culture systems. As climate risks escalate, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), through the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), provides a vital channel for scaling adaptive aquaculture models rooted in ecosystem-based management. By integrating these multi-source funding programs into the town’s 2023–2028 Coastal Resource Management Plan, Sasmuan stands wellpositioned to pioneer a replicable blueprint, where conservation and aquaculture not only coexist, but co-evolve toward a blue and inclusive future. Ultimately, the long-term viability of shrimp and mud crab populations in the SPCW, and consequently the livelihoods of the reliant local fishing communities, rests on the collaborative effort that integrates ecological research, regulatory strategies, and active community involvement. Notes Karl Patrick D. Taguberi and Hannah Nicole C. Gasmen, Department of Biology, School of Science and Engineering, Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines 1108, and Janice A. 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