FEBRUARY 2026

Second annual UOG Fish Fest celebrates sustainability, science, and culture

From ancient fishing traditions and modern marine science to a fish kelaguen competition, the second annual Fish Fest —organized by the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant —returned this month, continuing its mission to promote sustainable fishing and food security.

Anchored to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water, the festival brought together scientists, traditional fishers, and local families, alongside key partners like the UOG Marine Lab, the Guam Department of Agriculture, the Micronesian Conservation Coalition, among others, for the event held at the Guam Green Growth Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub at CHamoru Village.

Austin Shelton, Ph.D., director of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, highlighted biodiversity, economy, and culture as the three pillars of the event. He noted that Guam boasts some of the most diverse coral reefs in the United States, supporting over a thousand species of reef fish. Given the significance of the island’s marine resources, Shelton emphasized that the festival serves as an essential platform for sharing best practices in sustainable fishing and resource management.

“We want to be able to ensure that the values that have been passed on for generations continue to get passed on to the future. And as we go to harvest these different species that you learn about here at Fish Fest, I think that’s a really exciting and special time where we can have that focus on at least once a year for our Fish Fest and inspire the next generations to carry this forward,” Shelton said.

Fran Castro, associate director for operations and development at UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, noted that Fish Fest is a key component of the research extension and education efforts of the program. By collaborating with non-profit organizations, government agencies, and other partners, the festival provides a dedicated space to discuss the status of local fisheries on Guam and the region.

Leilani Sablan-Naden, project leader for Guihan for Guahan, described the event as a celebration of a resource that has been central to CHamoru culture. “This is an outreach event that is meant to celebrate our fish, our fisheries, and this amazing resource that surrounds our island. We have our various outreach partners that are here engaging the community on the various types of work that they do, whether that is science or management…We are just here to celebrate all things fish,” Sablan-Naden said.

OTHER NEWS

UOG’s G3 GROW Corps named among the nation’s top public service innovations

The Guam Green Growth (G3) Guam Restoration of Watersheds (GROW) Corps, facilitated by the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, has been named to 50 States, 50 Breakthroughs, a national showcase highlighting transformative public service initiatives across the United States and its territories.

The showcase features one project from every U.S. state, along with Washington, D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico, and recognizes initiatives advancing public impact in areas such as artificial intelligence and emerging technology, climate and disaster response, digital transformation, workforce development, policymaking, transportation and infrastructure, housing and health, and citizen engagement.

The G3 GROW Corps was selected in the climate, energy, and disaster response category for its work restoring Guam’s watersheds, strengthening environmental resilience, and developing a sustainability-focused workforce.

UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez, DBA, who also serves as the co-chair for the G3 initiative, underscored the institutional significance of the inclusion in the list. “Being featured in this national showcase underscores the University’s leadership in advancing community-driven solutions. It signals that the work happening with UOG and Guam Green Growth is contributing to conversations and progress well beyond our shores.”

UOG announces extension of CIS2026 in partnership with NMC in Saipan

The University of Guam (UOG) has announced an extension of the 17th University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability (CIS2026), expanding the event through April 26 with the addition of two days of programming in Saipan, further strengthening its partnership with Northern Marianas College (NMC).

Originally scheduled to conclude on Friday, April 24, 2026, the conference’s extension reflects growing regional interest and a shared commitment between UOG and NMC to address sustainability challenges unique to island communities across Micronesia.

The additional Saipan-based programming will bring together educators, researchers, policymakers, students, and community leaders from Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to engage in discussions focused on climate resilience, environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, renewable energy, and sustainable development.

The decision to extend the conference underscores the importance of regional collaboration in addressing island sustainability issues that transcend political and geographic boundaries.

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant) is inviting the public and partners to share their support and experiences through a new initiative highlighting the value the program brings to Guam and the broader Micronesian region.

The “I Value CIS & Sea Grant” campaign encourages community members, partners, and program participants to add their names and comments on a dedicated web form explaining why they support the work of UOG CIS & Sea Grant. Participants can simply sign their names or share personal stories describing how the program has impacted their lives, their work, or the island community.

The effort follows a broader national initiative across Sea Grant programs throughout the United States, which are emphasizing the importance of Sea Grant research, education, and outreach programs in their local communities.

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant) has announced six students selected for the 2026 Research, Education and Extension Fellowship (REEF) and Guam Green Growth (G3) Circular Economy Internship. Over the coming months, these students will bridge the gap between classroom theory and hands-on practice, gaining professional experience in fields ranging from coral reef ecology to the island’s circular economy.

“These programs are funded under the UOG Sea Grant Omnibus, which supports undergraduate fellowships and workforce development internships.

Together, these opportunities equip students with a strong toolbelt of practical skills, research experience, and professional mentorship that prepare them for careers in sustainability and beyond,” said UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant Project Leader Phil Cruz at the event announcing the new program participants.

FEATURED COLUMNS

Stories Rooted In Nature:

What washed ashore in one night

Lying there, listening to the wind and rain, I worried about our University of Guam Island Conservation Lab rare plant nursery canopy structures breaking, our banana trees bending, and the delicate flowers on our avocado tree blowing away. Would they still be there in the morning?

What I didn’t think about was how that same stormy night would redraw my running path along the beach. I know how much can change overnight on our shoreline. But each stormy event still manages to surprise me.

1 Island, 1 Future:

Turning plastic into purpose

Interning at the Guam Green Growth Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub has truly been a journey of learning for both of us. At the UOG CIS & Sea Grant REEF internship, Napu and I realized the giant impact that a small, educated few can make. Entering the Makerspace both as undergrads majoring in engineering, we were drawn in by the prospect of learning fundamental hands-on skills such as using power tools, laser printers, and computer-aided design. Other incredible lessons we were fortunate to learn from our brilliant mentors were problem-solving, plastic recycling, and 3D printing, but our biggest takeaway was something more abstract - the importance of collective action.

VIDEOBYTE: Second Fish Fest brings schools of enthusiasts

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

SNAPSHOTS!

IT'S ALL IN THE THROW: Talayeru Shane Root led a talaya throwing booth at the second annual Fish Fest at the G3 Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub area of CHamoru Village. The event showcased different means of fishing including this method used by CHamoru ancestors for centuries.

G3 STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING: Guam Green Growth working group member and UOG CIS and Sea Grant Advisory Board Chair Carlotta Leon Guerrero updates on the deep sea mining issues of the Mariana Islands during the G3 Steering Committee meeting at the Governor's Office conference room in Adelup. Working group leads provided updates on their group's work to steering committee co-chairs Dr. Austin Shelton and Lt. Governor Joshua Tenorio.

A Walk to Remember: G3 GROW Corps lead Tomas Benevente, GROW lead Joshua Muna and the team provided a site visit and tour to visiting partners and grantors earlier this month. The tour included updates on the project, a look at the origin of the restoration work and ended with native tree planting. The GROW Initiative aims to reforest the Ugum Watershed to help curb erosion and the degradation of our southern coastal ecosystems and coral reefs.