In this issue:

Webinar on fish welfare: What we need to know? Artemia side event at the FAO Sub-Committee on Aquaculture; Handbook for Artemia pond culture in Bangladesh; NACA YouTube channel: @aquacultureasia; Reported aquatic animal diseases in the Asia-Pacific region during the third quarter of 2022; 13th Asia-Pacific Marine Biotechnology Conference, 2-6 October 2023, Australia; Global Seafood Trade Fair, 28-30 June, Guangzhou, China.

In this issue:

Augmenting entrepreneurial attitude among tribal women of Jharkhand through a skill development programme in fish value added products; Culture of hilsa, Tenualosa ilisha in freshwater ponds: Progress and prospects in farming practice; Present status of medium-saline ‘bheri’ fishery and integrated mangrove aquaculture in West Bengal, India: A short study, Part I; Information for farmers on yellow tail catfish, Pangasius pangasius, for easier captive production; Captive breeding and larval rearing of Cirrhinus reba, a small indigenous fish of aquaculture importance; NACA Newsletter.

Cirrhinus reba or ‘reba carp’ is a commercially important indigenous minor carp species distributed over south Asia. It is highly popular among consumers and fetches a better price than the major carps.  A herbivorous species, C. reba can easily digest plant protein sources. It has been identified as a priority species for aquaculture diversification in India and has great scope for incorporation in carp culture and polyculture systems.

The yellow tail catfish Pangasius pangasius is found throughout the rivers of the Indian subcontinent. A large, omnivorous, and highly fecund species, it is suitable for aquaculture. Initial work on captive breeding of yellow tail catfish was carried out by scientists from the ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture in the early 1990's. This article provides updated information on captive reproduction, larval rearing and nusery techniques for this species, which will be of use for farmers and entrepreneurs interested in producing it.

FAI and NACA will convene a webinar on fish welfare issues on 8 March from 9:30-11:30 am Bangkok time (GMT+7). The webinar will address the relationship between welfare, health, quality and profit in aquaculture production. The programme will feature talks on:

• Animal welfare applied to aquaculture.
• Preliminary tilapia welfare assessment results in Thailand.
• A practical framework for assessments on aquaculture productions.
• Communicating welfare to the aquaculture industry.

Participation is free but registration is required, please download the attached flyer for details.