1. GENERAL BACKGROUND 1.1. CURRENT STATUS OF THE PHILIPPINES TO CLIMATE CHANGE Climate change is a natural phenomenon which increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather disturbances which poses threat to human, society, biodiversity, economy and food security (Jacinto, Songcuan, Yip, & Santos, 2014). According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF – Philippines), Philippines is considered as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. In 2012, Philippines is included in the list and ranked 7th in the most affected countries of climate change based on the long-term climate risk index analyzed from 1993-2012 of global climate risk index 2014 (Kreft & Eckstein, 2013). According to the climate projections of PAG-ASA, there will be a continuum changes in seasonal temperature and rainfall, and extreme temperature as well as extreme rainfall events are expected to be experienced in the Philippines. Also, it is projected that all areas in the Philippines will get warmer, mean temperatures in all areas in the Philippines are expected to rise 0.9 °C – 1.1 °C in 2020 and 1.8 °C – 2.2 °C in 2050. Thus, hot temperature will continue to be experienced in the future. As to rainfall variability, heavy daily rainfall will continue to become more frequently experienced in some areas of the country. Extreme rainfall experience in Luzon and Visayas is projected to increase while in Mindanao there will be a reduction of rainfall experience (PAG-ASA, 2011). Due to this climate variability, this will most likely cascade into more adverse impacts, particularly on forestry, fisheries, agriculture and livelihood, health, and human settlement. Among the stated sectors, fisheries sector is considered the most vulnerable sector to climate change (Jacinto et. al, 2014). 1.2. IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE TO FISHERIES SECTOR OF THE PHILIPPINES Philippines is said to be the center for marine biodiversity, by possessing significant marine habitats: coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove forests and the deep seas (Green Peace, 2013). These marine habitats provide shelter and cater to the existence of several marine species. But aside from being known to abundance of marine biodiversity, Philippines is also among the most threatened marine biodiversity due to several factors such us anthropogenic pressures and climate change (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2009). Climate change poses a compounding threat to the sustainability of capture fisheries and aquaculture development (FAO, 2009). Extreme weather disturbances brought about by climate change stimulates the increase in sea water temperature and acidity, melting glaciers, raising sea levels, and changing ocean currents (FAO, 2009). Continuing increase in atmospheric temperature and changes in rainfall regimes and patterns could lead to alteration in aquatic ecosystem that may directly or indirectly affect the fish productivity due to alteration in their physiology and behavior, growth, development, reproduction, capacity, mortality and distribution of aquatic animals. Due to hot temperature in the water systems, oxygen depletion occurs which causes to unable the system to support life for both marine and freshwater animals (Union of Concerned Scientist, 2011); this also causes the occurrence of ocean and freshwater stratification. This phenomenon affects the seasonality 1|Fish Vool