The Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific team participated actively during the 5th Global Symposium on Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries (GAF5) held during 12-15 November 2014, in Lucknow, India. This event was held simultaneously with the 10th Indian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum and the International Workshop on Aquatic Animal Disease Surveillance, wherein NACA was also represented.

Dr Cherdsak Virapat, NACA Director General, in his speech at the 10 IFAF and GAF5 opening ceremony, introduced NACA’s programmes with gender as one of the cross cutting themes, and giving acknowledgement to various organisations providing support, both local and international. The major international supporters were NORAD for GAF5 organisation, and USAID for the MARKET Special Workshop and MARKET Gender Project as a whole.

Dr. Meryl Williams, NACA Gender Mentor and the main organiser of GAF5, presented how interest in the then women in fisheries initiatives has evolved through the years into what is now known as the gender in aquaculture and fisheries.

The half-day Special Workshop on MARKET Project on 14 November 2014 presented the initial results of the gender assessments in each country (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam) and the various case studies prepared by the country teams. The case studies highlighted the gender aspects in selected aquaculture value chains. The Special Workshop was chaired by Dr Cherdsak Virapat, Ms Galdys Villacorta (USAID/MARKET), Dr Nikita Gopal (CIFT/ICAR) and Dr Arlene Nietes Satapornvanit (NACA).

The following presentations were given during the special workshop:

• NACA/USAID Thematic Studies on Gender in Aquaculture in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam by Dr. Arlene N. Satapornvanit, NACA.
• Success story of a woman in aquaculture, Cambodia by Mr. Kao Sovityea, Cambodia Fisheries Administration.
• Small-scale marine shrimp culture in Chanthaburi, Thailand by Dr. Amonrat Sermwatanakul.
• Small-scale tilapia cage culture in Sakhon Nakhon, Thailand by Dr. Kanit Naksung, Department of Fisheries.
• Red tilapia cage culture in Tieng Giang, Vietnam by Dr. Truong Hoang Minh, Cantho University.
• Rice-shrimp rotation farming in Soc Trang, Vietnam by Ms. Nguyen T.K. Quyen, Cantho University.

These presentations were also made into posters so the information could be disseminated to a larger audience and for the whole duration of the conference, which was held simultaneously with the 10th Indian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum.

Dr. Yuan Derun (NACA Education and Training Coordinator) also chaired a GAF5 session on Global Innovations.

The final session was the GAF Network meeting, wherein issues on how networking among interested gender stakeholders could be sustained through the years. Details were asked about the regional gender practitioners network being coordinated by NACA/USAID/MARKET. In addition, Dr. Eduardo Leano (NACA Aquatic Animal Health Programme Coordinator) shared his experiences and the mechanisms within the Fish Health Section network of the Asian Fisheries Society (AFS-FHS).