Timeline
Important dates
- To be announced Call for papers opens
- To be announced Abstract submission deadline
- To be announced Notice of acceptance
- To be announced Full paper submission deadline
- Conference
About
About the conference
The International Conference on the West Philippine Sea (ICWPS) brings together researchers, extension practitioners, community workers, government, civil society and the private sector to share research, projects and experiences that promote the sustainable management and inclusive growth of coastal and marine areas in the West Philippine Sea.
The conference is organized by Western Philippines University (WPU), which has worked on research and development in the Kalayaan Island Group since 2004.
How ICWPS started- edition, October 2027
- 6th
- editions since the first ICWPS
- 5
- presentations
- Oral & poster
Call for papers
Conference themes
Themes for the 6th edition will be announced with the call for papers. The 5th edition (2025) covered the following.
-
Ecological Health and Biodiversity
- Restoring and preserving marine ecosystems and biodiversity
- Marine life
-
Climate Change
- Ocean acidification, temperature rise and rising sea levels
- Disaster risk reduction and coastal communities
- Resilient marine protected areas and marine spatial planning
- Environmental and anthropogenic resilience
-
Sustainability and Resource Management
- Sustainable fisheries management
- Blue economy: growth and conservation
- Marine pollution and waste management: marine plastic litter
-
Science and Technology for the Seas
- Innovations and emerging marine research and technology
- Mapping and marine resource management
- Renewable energy from the sea
-
Human Dimensions and Livelihoods
- Coastal communities: livelihoods and adaptation strategies
- Traditional knowledge and practices in marine stewardship
- Food security and production through healthy seas
- Gender and development, women, and elders
-
Policy, Governance, and Diplomacy
- Legal frameworks and governance in the West Philippine Sea
- Maritime boundaries and cooperation
- Maritime good governance and strategies
- Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) trading
- Environmental and fisheries law enforcement in disputed waters
-
Youth and Public Engagement
- Ocean literacy and advocacy for the next generation
- Media and public campaigns for the West Philippine Sea
- Citizen science in marine conservation
-
Economic Dimensions
- Sustainable tourism in the West Philippine Sea
- Sustainable fisheries best practices
- Maritime trade and coastal resilience
- Marine conservation and economics
-
Partnerships for a Productive Sea
- Collaboration among government, NGOs and the private sector
- Protection of shared marine resources
- Alliances for the blue economy
Highlights
From the 5th ICWPS (2025)
Plenary speakers
Scientists and practitioners who shared insights on sustaining a healthy, resilient and productive sea in 2025.
Meet the speakers
PASUC endorsement
PASUC Advisory No. 060, s. 2025 formally endorses the conference to state universities and colleges.
Read the advisory (PDF)
Conference program
Two days of plenary talks, parallel oral sessions and poster presentations, August 14–15, 2025.
View the programPlan to present at the 6th ICWPS
Researchers, practitioners, students and community representatives will be invited to present their work in oral or poster sessions. The call for papers will be announced here.
Questions? Email the secretariat at icwps@wpu.edu.ph