This is the report of the project Application of PCR for improved shrimp health management in the Asian region. The training programme included two training workshops that were designed to provide a good understanding of PCR methodology, laboratory practices and trouble shooting in detection of both DNA and RNA viruses. The workshops were followed by by two rounds of an anonymous PCR inter-calibration or ring testing exercise to allow laboratories to gauge their own performance.

These standard operating procedures were developed to reduce the risk of spread of trans-boundary disease of aquatic animals through the movement of live food fish. The procedures are a set of documents for health certification and quarantine measures to be used by competent authorities in trade among ASEAN member countries. The procedures recognise the existing variation in capacity between ASEAN members and have been designed so that they can be implemented across varying policy and legal frameworks.

This report, the 37th in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of fourteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword discusses emerging diseases in the region.

In this issue:

Buffaloes in favour of culture-based fisheries in Sri Lanka. Aquafeeds in Myanmar: A change from farm-made to factory-made feeds. Challenging myths about seed quality and potential benfits to the rural poor. Catfish Clarius batrachus production using low cost hatcheries. Cage fish culture and livelihoods in the mid-hill lakes of Pokhara, Nepal. Marine fish hatchery training. Rabbitfish Siganus guttatus breeding and larval rearing. Vietnamese extension manual on culture-based fisheries.

A technical mission to Myanmar was undertaken to support development and implementation of national aquatic animal health strategies from 3 - 9 September 2006. The mission was part of the AADCP-RPS project "Strengthening Aquatic Animal Health Capacity and Biosecurity in ASEAN". The mission was coordinated by NACA and worked with stakeholders to develop simple and practical approaches to implement national aquatic animal health strategies in Myanmar.

This report, the 36th in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of fifteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword discusses recent activities in support of aquatic animal health in the region.

This report describes a training course on grouper hatchery protocols that was held in Indonesia in 2006. A total of 20 participants from 13 countries attended the training course which was hosted by the Brackishwater Aquaculture Development Centre, Situbondo. Participants came from Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

This report, the 35th in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of fifteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword discusses mechanisms for recognition of emerging diseases in the Asia-Pacific region.

In this issue:

Cage aquaculture of tilapia in Lake Taal, Philippines. Development and adoption of BMPs by farmer groups. Lotus - an aquatic plant of versatile qualities. Integrated aquaculture-agriculture systems in Bangladesh: Potential for sustainable livelihoods and nutrititional security of the rural poor. Spreadsheet model of the market chain for the live reef food fish trade. Regional Grouper Hatchery Production Training Course. Replacing marine fish oil in aquafeeds with tropical palm oil products. NACA Newsletter.

In this issue:

Iranian officers train in advanced marine shrimp farming and meet Iraqi delegation at NACA. Green award recognises NACA work on sustainable shrimp farming. International Principles for Responsible Shrimp Farming now available in Spanish. Building capacity on aquatic animal epidemiology in I.R. Iran. NACA Fisheries Team meets with new Governor of Aceh. Aquaculture Certification: Programme to implement the COFI Sub-Committee on Aquaculture recommendation. Recent Developments in the Aquaculture Feed Industry. Global Advances in the Ecology and Management of Golden Apple Snails. NACA mission to Myanmar. Workshop on Insurance in Aquaculture to be held in Bali, May 2007. Catfish 2007 Vietnam. Tilapia 2007 Kuala Lumpur.