Malou is a scientist and a licensed Fisheries Technologist with over four decades of professional experience in fisheries science, aquaculture, and freshwater ecosystems. She is the former Head of the SEAFDEC/AQD Binangonan Freshwater Station, where her work focused on aquaculture development, lake management, and environmental assessment.

Her areas of work include climate‑related impacts on inland fisheries, giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) culture, and water quality issues in tropical lakes, particularly Laguna de Bay, Philippines.

Areas of Expertise

• Freshwater Prawn Aquaculture

• Limnology & Lake Management

• Aquatic Ecotoxicology

• Climate Resilience & Mitigation

• Aquaculture Systems & Feeding Management

• Water Quality & Mass Fish Kill Analysis

• Invasive Species & Biodiversity

• Sustainable Policy & Certification

Academic Background

• Doctor in Agricultural Science(Magna cum laude)
  Hohenheim University, Stuttgart, Germany (2003)

• Master of Science (Zoology)
  University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland (1985)

• Master of Science (Biology)
  University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City (1984)

• Bachelor of Science (Zoology)
  University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City (1979)

Publications

• Monghit-Camarin MA, Cruz-Lacierda ER, Pakingking Jr R, Cuvin-Aralar ML, Traifalgar RF, Añasco NC, Austin FW, Lawrence ML. 2020. Bacterial microbiota of hatchery-reared freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man, 1879). Asian Fisheries Science. 33(3):241-248.

• Cuvin-Aralar ML. 2016. Introduced Aquatic Species for Inland Aquaculture:  Boon or Bane? Fish for the People. 14:26-39.

• Cuvin-Aralar ML. 2016. Impact of aquaculture on fish biodiversity in the freshwater lake Laguna de Bay, Philippines. Lakes and Reservoirs: Research and Management. 21:31-39.

• Cuvin-Aralar, MLA. 2014. Embryonic development of the Caridean prawn Macrobrachium mammillodactylus (Crustacea:   Decapoda: Palaemonidae). Invertebrate Reproduction and Development. 58:306-313. 

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA, Lazartigue AG, Aralar EV. 2013. Net mesh size affects production of giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii cultured in lake-based cages. Journal of Applied Ichthyology. 29:833838. 

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA, Gibbs P, Palma A, Andayog, A, Noblefranca L. 2012. Skipfeeding as an alternative strategy in the production of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linn.) in cages in selected lakes int he Philippines. Philippine Agricultural Scientist. 95(4): 378-385. 

• Lückstädt C, Cuvin-Aralar MLA, Kühlmann K-J. 2012. Dietary potassium diformate improves growth performance of male Nile tilapia. Global Aquaculture Advocate. Vol. 15, Issue 2. Mar/Apr 2012. Pp32-33.

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA, Lückstädt C, Schroeder K, Kühlmann K-J. 2011. Effect of dietary organic acid salts, potassium diformate and sodium diformate on the growth performance of male Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Bulletin of Fish Biology. 13:33-40.

• Cuvin-Aralar, MLA, Lazartigue, AG, Aralar EV. 2009. Cage culture of the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone 1931) at different stocking densities in a shallow eutrophic lake. Aquaculture Research. 40: 181187. 

• Cuvin-Aralar, MLA, Aralar, EV, Laron MA, Rosario W. 2007. Culture of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man 1879) in experimental cages in a freshwater eutrophic lake at different stocking densities. Aquaculture Research. 38: 288-294. 

• Cuvin-Aralar, M.L., Focken, U., Becker, K., Aralar E.V. 2004. Cuvin-Aralar, M.L., Focken, U., Becker, K., Aralar E.V. 2004. Effects of low nitrogenphosphorus ratios in the phytoplankton community in Laguna de Bay, a shallow eutrophic lake in the Philippines. Aquatic Ecology. 38:387-401 Cuvin-Aralar, M.L., Fastner, J., Focken, U., Becker, K. and Aralar, E.V. 2002. Microcystins in natural blooms and laboratory cultured Microcystis aeruginosa from Laguna de Bay, Philippines. Systematic and Applied Microbiology. 25(2):179-182. 

• Cuvin-Aralar , M.L.A., and E.V. Aralar. 1995. Resistance to a heavy metal mixture in Oreochromis niloticus progenies from parents chronically exposed to the same metals. Chemosphere. 30(5): 953-963.

• Cuvin-Aralar, M.L.A. 1994. Survival and heavy metal accumulation of two Oreochromis niloticus (L.) strains exposed to mixtures of zinc, cadmium and mercury. Science of the Total Environment. 148(1):31-38. 

• Cuvin-Aralar, M.L.A. and E.V. Aralar. 1993. Effects of long-term exposure to a mixture of cadmium, zinc and inorganic mercury on two strains of tilapia Oreochromis niloticus(L.). Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 50(6):891-897. 

• Cuvin-Aralar, M.L.A. and R.C. Umaly. 1991. Accumulation and tissue distribution of radioiodine (131I) from algal phytoplankton by the freshwater clam Corbicula manilensis. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 47(6): 896-903.

• Cuvin-Aralar, M.L.A. and R.W. Furness. 1991. Mercury and selenium interaction (A review). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 21(3): 348-364.

• Cuvin-Aralar, M.L.A. and R.W. Furness. 1990. Tissue distribution of mercury and selenium in minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus). Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 45(5): 775-782.

• Cuvin-Aralar, M.L.A. 1990. Mercury levels in the sediment, water and selected finfishes of Laguna Lake, the Philippines. Aquaculture. 84(3-4): 277288.

• Cuvin, M.L.A. and R.W. Furness. 1988. Uptake and elimination of inorganic mercury and selenium by minnows Phoxinus phoxinus. Aquatic Toxicology. 13: 205-216.

• Cuvin, M.L.A.and R.C. Umaly. 1988. Uptake and elimination of iodine-131 by the freshwater clam Corbicula manilensis Philippi from water. Natural and Applied Science Bulletin. 40(3): 141-158.

• Cuvin-Aralar ML, Aya FA, Romana-Eguia MR, Logronio DJ. 2019. Nursery culture of tropical anguillid eels in the Philippines. Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Iloilo, Philippines. 38pp.

• Cuvin-Aralar, M.L.A., C.H. Ricafort, and A. Salvacion. 2016. “An Overview of Agricultural Pollution in the Philippines: The Fisheries Sector.” Prepared for the World Bank. Washington, D.C. 66pp.

• Magcale-Macandog, D.B, R.M. Briones, A.D. Calub, R.B. Saludes, M.L.A. Cuvin-Aralar, A.R. Salvacion, E.V.P. Tabing, P.M.J. Paraiso, C.H. Ricafort, I.M.A. Silapan, S.G.L. Quinones, R.V. Estadola. 2016. “An Overview of Agricultural Pollution in the Philippines: Summary Report.” Prepared for the World Bank. Washington, D.C. 128 pp

• Aya FA, Cuvin-Aralar ML, Coloso MR. 2015. Potential of cow pea (Vigna unguilata L.) meal as an alternative protein source in diets for giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii, de Man 1879). In: Romana-Eguia MRR, Parado-Estepa FD, Salayo ND, Lebata-Ramos MJH (eds.). Resource Enhancement and Sustainable Aquaculture Practices in Southeast Asia: Challenges in Responsible Production of Aquatic Species. Proceedings of the International Workshop on Resource Enhancement and Sustainable Aquaculture Practices in Southeast Asian 2014 (RESA); 5-7 March 2014; Iloilo City, Philippines. Iloilo, Philippines: SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department; pp. 231-237.

• Cuvin-Aralar, MLA. 2014. Fish biodiversity and incidence of invasive fish species in an aquaculture and non-aquaculture site in Laguna de Bay, Philippines. In ‘Lakes: The Mirrors of the Earth- Balancing Ecosystem Integrity and Human Well-being”. Chiara Biscarini C., Pierleoni A. & Naselli-Flores L. (eds). Proceedngs of the 15th World Lake Conference, Perugia, Italy. Science4press, Italy.  Pp 53-57.

• Aralar, MLC, Borja, AS, Palma, AL, Mendoza, MM, Ocampo, PC, Manalili, EV, & Darvin, LC(eds). 2013. LakeCon2011: Building on the Pillars of Integrated Lake Basin Management. Second National Congress on Philippine Lakes. Los Baños, Laguna. PCAARRD-DOST. 337p. (Summary of Proceedings No. 1/2013).

• Cuvin-Aralar M.L.A., Laron M.A., Aralar E.V., dela Paz U.C. 2011. Breeding and seed production of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Aquaculture Extension Manual No. 52. SEAFDEC/AQD, Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines. 33pp.

• Cuvin-Aralar M.L.A., Lazartigue A.G., Aralar E.V.  2011. Cage culture of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Aquaculture Extension Manual No. 50. SEAFDEC/AQD, Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines. 30pp.

• Cuvin-Aralar, ML, Gibbs, P, Palma, A, Andayog, A & Noblefranca, L. 2011. The ACIAR-BFAR Rinconada Lakes project: improving fish culture practices for sustainability and profitability. In: Fishery Environmental Evaluation and Ecological Rehabilitation (Liu Q., Xu P.,Yang J., Li Y.,and Li J., eds.) , China Ocean Press, Beijing, pp.51-65. (Proceedings of the 2010 Forum on Fishery Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences)

• Eguia MRR, Aralar MLC. 2007. Recent Developments in the Genetic Improvement of the Giant Freshwater Prawn (Macrobrachium sp). A compendium of results from the Collaborative Prawn Genetic Improvement and Seed Production Research Project under the Program on the Promotion of Sustainable Aquaculture in theASEAN Region (2002-2007). SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department, Iloilo, Philippines. 88pp. 

• Cuvin-Aralar, M.L. 2005. Microcystins from Microcystis aeruginosa in Laguna de Bay. In Proceedings of the First National Congress on Philippine Lakes (LakeCon2003).  Cuvin-Aralar, M.L., Punongbayan, R.S., Santos-Borja, A., Castillo, L.V., Manalili, E.V. and Mendoza, M.M. (editors). SEARCA, Los Banos, Laguna. pp. 116-122. 

• Cuvin-Aralar, M.L., Punongbayan, R.S., Santos-Borja, A., Castillo, L.V., Manalili, E.V. and Mendoza, M.M. (editors). 2005. Proceedings of the First National Congress on Philippine Lakes (LakeCon2003).   SEARCA, Los Banos, Laguna.

• Cuvin-Aralar, M.L., Santiago, A.E., Gonzal, A.C., Santiago, C.B., RomanaEguia, M.R., Baldia, S.F. and Palisoc, F.P., Jr. 2001 Incidence and causes of mass fish kill in a shallow tropical eutrophic lake (Laguna de Bay, Philippines). In Proceedings of the 9thInternational Conference on the Conservation and Management of Lakes. Shiga Prefectural Govenrment, Japan. Session 5. pp.233-236.

• Santiago, C.B., Cuvin-Aralar M.L., and Basiao, Z.U (editors). 2001. Conservation and Ecological Management of Philippine Lakes in Relation to Fisheries and Aquaculture. Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department, Iloilo, Philippines; Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development, Los Ba ٌ os, Laguna, Philippines; and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Quezon City, Philippines. 187 pp.

• Cuvin-Aralar, M.L.A. 1991. Acute toxicity of mercury to Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings.  In Bloom, H., Dodson, J.J., Tjitrosomo, S.S., Umaly, R.C. and Sukimin, S., eds. Inland Aquatic Environmental Stress Monitoring.(Proceedings of the Symposium) BIOTROP Special Publication No. 43. SEAMEO BIOTROP, Bogor, Indonesia. pp 133-137.

• Umaly, R.C. and M.L.A. Cuvin. 1988. Limonology: Laboratory and Field Guide, Physico-chemical Factors, Biological Factors. National Bookstore, Inc., Manila, Philippines 322pp.

• Cuvin-Aralar M.L.A.2003. Influence of three Nitrogen:Phosphorus Ratios on the Growth and Chemical Composition of Microalgae and its Utilization by Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.). Verlag Grauer, Stuttgart and Beuren, Germany. 159pp. (Doctoral Dissertation, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany- ISBN 3-86186-428-2) 

• Cuvin M.L.A. 1985. Mercury and Selenium Interaction: A Review of Literature and Some Experiments with Minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus) Using Inorganic Mercury and Selenium. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Glasgow, Scotland. 150 pp. 

• Cuvin M.L.A. 1984. Uptake and Elimination of Iodine-131 by the Freshwater clam Corbicula manilensis Philippi from Water and Labeled Phytoplankton Chroococcus dispersus. M.Sc. Thesis, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines. 86 pp.

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA. Plankton diversity in an aquaculture and capture fisheries site in Laguna de Bay, Philippines,16th World Lakes Conference, 5-11 November 2016, Bali, Indonesia.

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA. Domestication and Evaluation of the Culture Potential of the Native Caridean Prawns. 7th AQUATECH, 20 July 2016, Summit Ridge Hotel, Tagaytay City

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA. Impact of aquaculture on fish biodiversity in the freshwater lake Laguna de Bay, Philippines. 1st Philippine Symposium on Freshwater Biodiversity and Ecosystems, 7 June 2016, University of Sto. Tomas, Manila.

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA. 2015. Emerging Species: Giant Freshwater Prawn. 2015 AQUATECH. 28-29 May 2015. Tagaytay City.

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA. 2015. Fish Biodiversity in an Aquaculture and nonAquaculture site in Laguna de Bay. Lecture presented to BS Biology students of Southern Luzon State University, Lucban, Quezon, 18 February 2015

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA. 2015. Causes of Mass Fish Kill in Inland Waters. Lecture presented to BS Biology students of Southern Luzon State University, Lucban, Quezon, 18 February 2015

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA. 2015. Can we formulate for Sustainable Aquaculture? Lecture presented at the Aquatic Seminar of VIV Asia Trade Exhibition and Conference, Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center, Bangkok, Thailand, 13-15 March 2015.

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA. 2014. Domestication and evaluation  of  the  culture  potential  of  the  native  Caridean  prawns  Macrobrachium  lar  and Macrobrachium mammillodactylus. Research Information and Policy Forum organized by the National Research Council of the Philippines, 29 September, 2014, Trader’s Hotel, Manila.

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA. 2014. Fish biodiversity and incidence of invasive fish species in an aquaculture and non-aquaculture site in Laguna de Bay, Philippines. 15th World Lakes Conference. 5 September 2014. University of Perugia, Perugia, Umbria, Italy

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA. Recent Developments in the Cage Culture of the Giant Freshwater Prawn.  First International Giant Freshwater Prawn Congress. January 10-11, 2013. Southern Leyte State University-    Bontoc Campus. (participation sponsored by the organizers)

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA. 2013. Freshwater Prawn Industry in Asia.  First International Giant Freshwater Prawn Congress. January 10-11, 2013. Southern Leyte State University-Bontoc Campus. (participation sponsored by the organizers)

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA, Blanco B, Aralar Emiliano V. Cage culture at low stocking densities of Litopenaeus vannamei in a freshwater eutrophic lake without artificial feeding. Oral paper presented at the AQUA 2012 Conference, Prague, Czech Republic. 1-5 September 2012. Organized by the World Aquaculture Society. (attendance sponsored by the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research, ACIAR)

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA. Aquaculture in Philippine Lakes. Lecture presented at the In-house Technical Forum at San Miguel Foods, Inc., B-MEG Animal and Aquatic Feeds, Pasig City, Philippines. 29 June 2012

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA. 2012. Understanding mass fish kills. Lecture presented at the In-house Technical Forum at San Miguel Foods, Inc., B-MEG Animal and Aquatic Feeds, Pasig City, Philippines. 29 June 2012

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA, Lazartigue-Patricio AG, Aralar EV. Culture of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii in lake-based cages: Effect of substrate area on production. Oral paper presented at the Australasian Aquaculture Conference,Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center, Melbourne, Australia. 1-4 May 2012. Organized by World Aquaculture Society. (attendance sponsored by the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research, ACIAR)

• Cuvin-Aralar, Lazartigue, AG, Aralar, EV. Recent developments in the culture of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in lake-based cages. World Aquaculture 2011. Annual Conference of the World Aquaculture Society. 6-10 June 2011, Natal Convention and Exposition Center, Natal, Brazil. (attendance sponsored by the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research, ACIAR)

• Cuvin-Aralar, ML. Climate change impacts and mitigation for fisheries and aquaculture. Presented at the Forum on Poverty Alleviation and Climate Change Adaptation through Mariculture, 31 May 2011. Auditorium, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Quezon City.

• Cuvin-Aralar, ML, Lazartigue, AG, Aralar EV. Effect of stocking size and feeding rates on the growth of   Macrobrachium rosenbergii cultured in lake-based cages. Asian Pacific Aquaculture Conference and Giant Prawn 2011, Le Meridien Hotel and Conference Center, Kochi, Kerala, India. 20 Jan 2011. (attendance sponsored by the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research, ACIAR)

• Cuvin-Aralar ML, Gibbs P, Palma A, Andayog A, Noblefranca L. The ACIARBFAR Rinconada Lakes Project: Improving fish culture practices for sustainability and profitability, Keynote paper presented at the 2010 Forum on Fisheries Science and Technology, 10-12 October 2010, Wuxi, China. (participation sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Fisheries Science, China).

• Cuvin-Aralar ML, Gibbs P, Palma A, Andayog A, Noblefranca L. Effect of different feeding management schemes  on the aquaculture production of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus in Lake Bato, Camarines Sur, Philippines. Aquaculture 2010 Conference. 1-5 March 2010, San Diego, California, USA (attendance sponsored by the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research, ACIAR)

• Cuvin-Aralar ML, Lazartigue AG, Aralar EV.  Influence of net mesh size on the performance of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii cultured in lake-based cages. Aquaculture 2010 Conference. 1-5 March 2010, San Diego, California, USA. (attendance sponsored by the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research, ACIAR)

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA. Culture of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii. 13th Southern Luzon Zonal R&D Symposium and Aquatic Technology Roadshow. 4-6 November 2009. Partido State University, Goa, Camarines Sur. (participation sponsored by the organizers)

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA & Blanco B. Freshwater culture of the Pacific White Shrimp Penaeus vannamei. 10 October 2009. Agrilink-Aqualink-Foodlink Exhibit. World Trade Center, Manila. (participation sponsored by the organizers)

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA. Cage Culture of the Giant Freshwater Prawn. 9 October 2009. Agrilink-Aqualink-Foodlink Exhibit. World Trade Center, Manila. (participation sponsored by the organizers)

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA. Culture of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii.First Investment Conference (ICON), Organized by Department of Trade and Industry, Region XII. General Santos City, 22-23 July 2009 (participation sponsored by the organizers)

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA. Culture of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Science Week, University of Sto. Tomas, Manila, Feb. 2, 2009. 

• Cuvin-Aralar MLA. Comparison of Performance of Two Populations of Macrobrachium rosenbergii Cultured in Lake-Based Cages. World Aquaculture 2008. The Annual International Conference and Exposition of World Aquaculture Society and Korean Aquaculture Society. May 1923, 2008, Busan, Korea (participation sponsored by ACIAR and Government of Japan Trust Fund)

Memberships

• World Aquaculture Society, Member

• Asian Fisheries Society (AFS), Full Member

• Philippine Aquaculture Society (PAS), Member

• National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP), Regular Member of the Biological Science Division; Section head of Aquatic Sciences Change Adaptation and Biodiversity Conservation, Member

• Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science, (PHILAAS), Life Member

• Philippine Association of German Academic Exchange Scholars (PAGAES), Member

• Philippine Lakes Network (PLaNet), Founding Member

• Technical Working Group for the National Conference on Wetlands, Climate

• Technical Working Group for the establishment of the Guidelines on Certification of Best Aquaculture Practices under the Philippine’s Department of Agriculture- Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (DABAFPS)

• Phi Sigma Biological Honor Society, Alpha Chi Chapter, Member

• University of the Philippines, Institute of Biology Alumni Association (UP-IBA), Vice President.