The third High-Level Meeting on Aquaculture Transformation in Asia and the Pacific assessed progress on the FAO/NACA White Paper 2030 transformation goals and identified priority actions for regional collaboration. Held 1-2 July 2025 at Shanghai Ocean University, the meeting brought together representatives from NACA member governments, the Pacific Community, FAO, WorldFish and research institutions. The meeting report documents their deliberations and recommendations.

Four panel discussions addressed regional innovation assessment, implementation progress, technology showcases and investment strategies. Participants identified multiple challenges requiring coordinated action: farmer scepticism about unfamiliar technologies, limited access to expertise, misaligned incentives that prioritise profit over sustainability, and failure to direct investment towards small-scale producers. Discussions emphasised the need for knowledge-based aquaculture, better storytelling to highlight social benefits, and collaborative approaches to leverage collective strengths.

NACA and FAO will continue supporting National Innovation and Investment Plans in India, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Future initiatives include assessing the regional innovation ecosystem through a Technical Cooperation Programme, developing an Aquaculture Transformation Monitoring and Assessment System to track implementation, and establishing an Aquaculture Innovation and Investment Hub connecting public and private partners.