CONSERVATION Training / half day workshop
Understand Overfishing & Its Impacts
Understand what’s happening beneath the surface.
Fish are one of the most important resources in the ocean. They provide food and livelihoods for millions of people, support complex marine food webs and play essential roles in healthy coral reef ecosystems. But when fish are removed faster than populations can recover, the consequences can extend far beyond the fishery itself. Overfishing can change marine ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, affect food security and threaten the livelihoods of coastal communities.
In this half-day workshop, you’ll explore the science behind overfishing, how fisheries affect marine ecosystems, why fish populations decline and what can be done to make fisheries more sustainable.
You’ll also discover how fishing pressure, Marine Protected Areas, fisheries management and community conservation can influence the health and resilience of coral reef ecosystems.
The workshop is designed for both beginners and participants who already have some knowledge of environmental conservation.
Half day · Classroom workshop, theory + discussion · Small groups
What you’ll learn
By the end of this course, you will be able to better understand:
- Fisheries and fishing pressure — understand how fishing interacts with marine ecosystems.
- Overfishing — learn what overfishing actually means and how it is identified.
- Fish populations — understand how fish populations grow, reproduce and recover from harvesting.
- Food webs — explore the ecological roles of different fish and what can happen when important species are removed.
- Fishing methods — discover how different fishing techniques affect target species, habitats and non-target organisms.
- Coral reef fisheries — understand the relationship between fishing and coral reef health.
- Indicators of fishing pressure — explore changes in fish abundance, biomass, size structure and species composition.
- Fisheries management — learn about tools used to regulate fishing and rebuild fish populations.
- Marine Protected Areas — understand how MPAs can contribute to fisheries management and conservation.
- Sustainable fisheries — explore approaches that aim to balance ecological sustainability with human needs.
- Community conservation — understand why local communities are essential to successful fisheries management.
The goal isn’t simply to tell you that overfishing is a problem. It’s to help understand why it happens, how we know it is happening and what can be done about it.
Your day with CRCP
This field course is a half-day session with classroom session and workshop / discussions. The exact start time may vary, so we will confirm the schedule for your selected date. Find an example of schedule below:
- 08:00 — CRCP Introduction
- Begin with an introduction of our organization, the environmental work that we conduct & team on the field.
- 08:15 — Classroom session – Part 1: Introduction to fisheries, evolution over time and the relationship between fishing & sustainability?
- Begin with the fundamentals. What exactly is a fishery? We’ll introduce the basic concepts needed to understand fisheries and marine resource management, review how fisheries developed in the last century and what is overfishing. We’ll also cover unsustainable fishing methods. we’ll cover:
- What is overfishing
- Evolution of fisheries over time, sustainability in the practice & how it came to that
- Unsustainable & destructive fishing methods
- Begin with the fundamentals. What exactly is a fishery? We’ll introduce the basic concepts needed to understand fisheries and marine resource management, review how fisheries developed in the last century and what is overfishing. We’ll also cover unsustainable fishing methods. we’ll cover:
- 08:30 — Break
- 08:45 — Classroom session: Part 2: What happens when fish disappear?
- Explore the major observed and projected changes associated with this issue. We’ll discuss:
- Impacts on the reef & interdependent species
- Impacts on coastal communities
- case studies
- Explore the major observed and projected changes associated with this issue. We’ll discuss:
- 09:15 — Classroom session: Part 3: Local impacts & solutions
- Finish by exploring the different approaches used to manage fisheries. We’ll examine:
- Marine Protected Areas.
- Fishing restrictions.
- Size and catch limits.
- Seasonal closures
- Gear restrictions.
- Sustainable fishing practices.
- Community-based fisheries management.
- Fisheries monitoring.
- Enforcement and compliance.
- Global, local and individual responsibility and solutions
- Finish by exploring the different approaches used to manage fisheries. We’ll examine:
- 09:45 — Break
- 10:00 — Brainstorming, discussion, Creative workshop,
- We’ll take this time to discuss fisheries, how it impact our every day life and what solutions we could implement individually. We will also play a creative game to review, map and brainstorm together on this topic and what solutions would be needed to solve it.
- 11:00 — Session end
- 12:00 — Plant based lunch & snacks
What is included?
Your course fee includes:
- Classroom learning – One classroom session covering theory and discussion of overfishing
- Lunch & snacks – Plant-based lunch and snacks are included. Vegetarian and vegan options are available.
Course fee
| Format | Fee |
|---|---|
| In person workshop | PHP 1,500 |
| Online – Theory only | PHP 1,500 |
A 20% deposit is required at the time of booking to secure your spot.
Filipino participants
Filipino participants receive an automatic 20% discount as a way to promote local participation. Simply let us know when you enquire so we can apply the discount.
CALENDAR /
Upcoming dates
We run this course in small groups to allow participants to receive close guidance from our instructors.
Classes are available on request, subject to instructor and field availability.
We recommend enquiring and reserving your place several weeks in advance.
The exact start time may vary, so we will confirm the schedule for your selected date.
In 2026
- On request
In 2027
- On request
Additional dates may occasionally be available, particularly for online participants. Contact us if you have a preferred date or need another option.
Small groups · Advance booking recommended
Places are limited and courses can fill quickly. Bookings close one month before each scheduled course date.
Learn from conservation practitioners
This course is delivered by our environmental NGO Coral Reef & Rainforest Conservation Project (CRCP), as a mean to promote environmental literacy and uplift the community of marine lovers in the Philippines with environmental skills and good practices.
Our training programs connect education with real conservation work. Rather than learning about coral reefs only from a textbook, participants are introduced to the ecological concepts, observation skills and conservation approaches used in the field.
You learn in the environment we are working to protect.
Your training support our conservation efforts
For CRCP, education is a critical part of our conservation work.
Through our learnwithCRCP programs, we share knowledge, develop practical conservation skills and encourage individuals to become more active stewards of the natural environment. Through this, we share our passion. Participation in our training programs also helps support and fund CRCP’s wider research, monitoring and conservation activities. It as well as a source of funding for our research & conservation efforts. By joining a CRCP course, you are not only investing in your own knowledge, you are helping us continue our work to better understand and protect our local ecosystems.
Learn. Explore. Understand. Protect.
FAQ
Is this course suitable for beginners?
Yes. The course does not require previous knowledge of ecology, biology or conservation science. We will cover and explain what back information you need.
Does this course include scuba diving or snorkeling?
No. This is a dry classroom-based climate change workshop. You may combine it with a field activity that includes scuba diving or snorkeling if you wish, contact us.
Can the course be arranged on a different date?
Yes. Classes are available on request, subject to instructor and field availability. We recommend contacting us several weeks in advance.
Can I combine this course with other CRCP training?
Yes. If you are interested in combining rainforest ecology with mangrove, coral reef, marine or other conservation training, contact us and tell us about your goals.
We can discuss how different courses could be combined into a broader learning experience.
Can i come alone or is this for groups only?
You can come alone absolutely, most of our participants do. But if you prefer joining with your friend or partner, that works too. Our sessions are organized in small groups only so that everyone meet and quickly feels comfortable.
Where is the course conducted ?
We host this field course in our base in Siquijor Island. It can also be conducted online.
Ready?
Schedule your training with us
Our other conservation training programs
1 DAY CLASS:
MARINE OR TERRESTRIAL
Would you like to learn about marine or terrestrial ecosystems but you only have 1 day to spare ? This is for you. Pick and choose your preferred topic and come for an adventure. Each class is composed of 1 ecology and conservation lecture followed by field activity guided by one of our local expert. All levels welcomed!
1 WEEK PROGRAMS
Come immerse in environmental conservation for a 5 days / 6 nights with a team of experts on the field. Take a break from daily life, reconnect with nature, immerse in forests and pristine coral reefs and learn about how to protect them. We offer various types of 1 week programs, from broad to specialized.
LONGTERM & PROFESSIONAL COURSES (4wks min)
Are you interested in growing skills to take a bigger step from your daily life and actually help local scientific research and conservation work? Field work require skills but everything can be learned with time and efforts. If this is you, we offer long term development and mentorship programs.