Transforming Aquaculture in Asia and the Pacific – 3rd High-Level Meeting in Shanghai

1 August 2025 | 17568 views | .pdf | 448.54 KB | China, Emerging Global Issues, Environment and Sustainability, Food Security, Safety and Certification, Governance and Policy, Innovation, Livelihoods, gender and social issues

The 3rd High‑Level Meeting on Aquaculture Transformation in Asia and the Pacific (HLM-3), held 1–2 July in Shanghai, brought together governments, industry leaders and development partners to drive innovation, investment and sustainability in the region’s aquaculture sector. Discussions focused on scaling low‑cost fish production, making technology adoption easier for small farmers, improving access to finance, and strengthening regional cooperation. The meeting was organised by NACA, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and Shanghai Ocean University.

This annual series of high-level meetings is a platform for governments, industry leaders, researchers, and development partners to work together towards a shared vision: making aquaculture in the region more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable through innovation, investment, and partnerships.

Background and objectives

Asia and the Pacific account for over 90% of global aquaculture production. Yet, the sector faces growing challenges – from resource scarcity and environmental pressures to climate change and shifting market demands. HLM-3 built on earlier events in 2022 and 2023 and focused on:

Reviewing progress on the Aquaculture Transformation Roadmap and national innovation and investment plans.
Showcasing innovative technologies, business models, and investment opportunities.
Strengthening partnerships and identifying priority actions to accelerate transformation by 2030.

Key takeaways

Over two days of panel discussions, presentations, and open exchanges, participants highlighted key issues, which included:

Scaling low-cost fish production: Key to food security, especially carps, tilapia, and catfish. Profit margins are tight, so technologies must be affordable and easy to adopt.
Farmer-focused innovation: Most farmers are small-scale and need practical, intuitive tools. Building trust in new technologies and improving extension services is essential.
Policy and regulatory reform: Streamlining product approval processes across countries could reduce delays and costs for innovations such as vaccines and feed additives.
Genetic improvement: Selective breeding offers one of the biggest opportunities for productivity gains.
Financing and investment gaps: The region produces most of the world’s farmed fish but attracts far less investment than it needs. Financing models must work for smallholders.
Knowledge-based farming: Efficiency gains in water, feed, and energy use require a shift from input-driven to knowledge-driven production.
Promoting the positive story of aquaculture: The sector’s contributions to rural livelihoods, food security, and the environment should be more widely communicated.

The meeting concluded that regional cooperation and targeted national actions must accelerate, with a sharper focus on investment strategies that reach small-scale farmers and SMEs. A meeting report will be published in due course.

Looking ahead

Next steps agreed at the meeting include:

Advancing the Aquaculture Transformation Roadmap and pilot national plans.
Expanding the Aquaculture Transformation Monitoring System and AquaHUB platform.
Deepening engagement with investors to meet the needs of smallholders and SMEs.
Strengthening partnerships to share knowledge and reduce duplication of effort.
Tracking progress towards the 4th High-Level Meeting.

Additional resources

The programme and videos of the HLM-3 presentations are available below.

We thank Shanghai Ocean University for hosting the event, and all participants for their commitment to advancing sustainable aquaculture in the region.

1754032481_hlm-3-programme.pdf

Creative Commons Attribution.

Aquaculture transformation: Innovation and investment for sustainable intensification and expansion of aquaculture in Asia and the Pacific region

The document provides an overall vision and framework intended to accelerate aquaculture transformation in Asia and the Pacific region through innovations and investment, and to provide guidance to partners from the public, private and development communities to actively engage with the region in transforming aquaculture to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable food systems. The document served as background information for discussion in the High-Level Meeting on Aquaculture Transformation in Asia and the Pacific Region, 22–23 November 2022, organised by the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific. The document is broadly aligned with FAO’s Blue Transformation Roadmap, paying specific attention to the context and needs of aquaculture within Asia and the Pacific region. The Paper translates the Roadmap into a vision and priority actions for aquaculture transformation in the region by 2030.

In this collection

Reimagine Fish Farming with RAS-P.I.N.A.S

This presentation by Elisa Claire Sy of E-Primate, showcases how RAS-P.I.N.A.S - a closed-loop, water-efficient technology - enables high-density, land-based fish farming using biofiltration, aeration, and mechanical treatment strategies. Discover how RAS conserves water and land, minimises disease risk, and offers flexibility in farm siting, while recognising the trade-offs of energy demands and infrastructure costs. Learn why RAS is gaining momentum as a key innovation in Asia's sustainable aquaculture future.

Thailand: Innovation showcase for aquaculture transformation

This video by Montakan Tamtin, Department of Fisheries, features two presentations from Thailand’s delegation to the 3rd High-Level Meeting on Aquaculture Transformation in Asia and the Pacific Region. The first showcases innovation and nature-based solutions in aquaculture via the IDRC-funded AQUADAPT Project; the second presents Thailand’s pilot initiative for low-carbon shrimp farming under an FAO Technical Cooperation Programme.

Innovations on alternatives to antimicrobials in aquaculture

This video by Chokanan Prompichai, NACA, presents two promising innovations aimed at reducing antimicrobial use (AMU) in aquaculture, showcased as part of Thailand’s National Innovation and Investment Plan (NIIP) and via the IDRC-funded InnoVet-AMR 2.0 Project. NanoVac, developed by AIT, uses nanobubbles to deliver vaccines to tilapia, while ShrimpGuard, developed by BIOTEC and KU, is a bacteriophage-based solution for managing shrimp diseases. Both technologies offer potential to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) without leaving chemical residues. The presentation compares their readiness, challenges, and adoption, incorporating feedback from shrimp farmers across Thailand. It highlights the need for cost-effective, easy-to-use solutions that align with farmers' real-world needs and regulatory frameworks.

Investing in innovation for transforming aquatic food systems

This video by Tipparat Pongthanapanich, FAO, is focussed on the critical role of investment in transforming aquatic food systems. The discussion explores strategies to mobilise finance from private capital, public investment, and development finance to meet the region’s substantial innovation needs. Topics include how to support SMEs and start-ups, bridge early- to late-stage funding gaps, and manage investment risks. With Asian aquaculture dominating global production but receiving limited venture capital, the session calls for coordinated action to unlock the sector’s full potential for sustainable growth, jobs, and food security.

Summary of HLM-3 and next steps

This video presents a summary of key insights and forward-looking actions from the closing session of the 3rd High-Level Meeting on Aquaculture Transformation in the Asia-Pacific Region. It highlights the critical role of low-cost fish for food security, the need for intuitive technologies suited to smallholders, and the barriers posed by regulation and financing gaps. Key themes include the importance of genetic improvement, knowledge-based farming, improved access to expertise, and alignment of incentives for sustainable and profitable aquaculture. The session emphasises inclusive investment strategies, farmer integration into financial systems, and the need for regional coordination and collaboration to drive transformation through 2030.