Update: The forum will now be held on 13 December and and updated conference agenda is available below. Please register your attendance using the form linked below. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants before the meeting, thank you.

A free online forum will be organised by the Agriculture Trade Promotion Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, and Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, and NACA. The forum aims to strengthen international exchange and cooperation in aquatic trade, promote high-quality development of fisheries, disseminate advanced concepts, technologies, and models of aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific region and Silk Road countries, and promote the health and sustainable development of global fisheries. Participation is free but registration is required.

On 28-29 November FAO and NACA collaborated on a virtual workshop to develop a regional strategy for aquatic organism health, using a progressive management pathway for improving aquaculture biosecurity. The workshop was held under the auspices of the project “Responsible use of fisheries and aquaculture resources for sustainable development component 3: Biosecurity and health management”. The workshop involved 31 experts from 16 countries, including national focal points, FAO and NACA. The objectives of the workshop were to: Present and analyse country responses to a self-assessment survey on biosecurity and health management capacity and performance; to provide guuidance to country participants on conducting a SWOT analysis; and to prepare a detailed plan for Phase II of the initiative.

With the implementation of the new aquatic animal disease reporting in the Asia Pacific region from January 2021, and in lieu of the published QAAD Reports (last issue published was 4th quarter of 2020), NACA is publishing reported aquatic animal diseases submitted by countries in the Asia-Pacific region.  This report covers the second quarter of 2022 and the original and updated reports can be accessed at the QAAD page. 

Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) is highly favoured as a food fish by consumers but has a complex life cycle and has proven very difficult to breed. Domestication of hilsa requires extra effort while nurturing the larval stage, which is very sensitive and susceptible to mortality. This article describes standardised protocols developed by the Kalyani Field Station of the ICAR-CIFA Regional Research Centre, Rahara, for artificial fertilisation, incubation and larval rearing of hilsa, as the first steps towards the goal of hilsa domestication and culture.

Establishing recreational fisheries in Uttarakhand's highland lakes and river systems offers new opportunities to generate livelihoods and income for hill people. The development of catch-and-release sport fisheries can also contribute to conservation of aquatic biodiversity through development of captive breeding technologies, supportive breeding based stock enhancement, and community participation in management of both fishery and habitat. This article describes established and emerging sport fisheries in the highlands of Uttarakhand including for mahseer, goonch and brown trout. It also addresses as yet unrealised opportunities for establishment of recreational fisheries identified through geoinformatic approaches, and partnerships between local communities and government in natural resource management.

In this issue:

Training Course on Mariculture Technologies in Asia-Pacific; FAO/NACA Virtual Workshop on Aquaculture Transformation in Asia and the Pacific Region; Belt & Road Forum for International Freshwater Fishery Industry Innovation; 8th Global Conference on Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries, 21-23 November; Reported Aquatic Animal Diseases in the Asia-Pacific Region during the First Quarter of 2022; International Training Course on Biology and Pathology of the Penaeid Shrimp 2022; Angkasa Putra inaugurated as first President of the South-East Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Student Association; Artemia webinars: Video recordings of technical presentations available.

In this issue:

Dynamics of small-scale aquaculture development in India: A review; Green water technology as an essential support to larval rearing of hilsa shad; Collection of freshwater molluscs and sale of meat by women in Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India; A success story of ornamental fish farming as a tool for alternative livelihood of tribal women in Keonjhar District, Odisha, India; Recent trends in seed production of stinging catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis, in India; NACA Newsletter.

Hatchery production of stinging catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) seed is increasing as it is a good fish species favoured by consumers due to its high protein and lower fat content. Stinging catfish naturally breeds in the monsoon season, and is found gravid in the wild during July-September. In captivity it can be successfully produced using either induced or natural breeding techniques. This article summarises what is known about stinging catfish biology, and methods for its captive breeding, rearing of larvae and fry, feeding strategies and health concerns, to aid production of seed of this valuable catfish.

In Odisha, India, ornamental fish farming, culture and seed production are being utilised by self help groups to provide livelihoods for poor people in rural communities. The objective of self help groups is to sustainably increase the income of poor families to bring them above the poverty line. This is being achieved through a process of social mobilisation, training and capacity building, and provision of some necessary facilities. This article documents the evolution of ornamental fish farming by the Pragati Self Help Group in Bhatunia Village.

Green water technology is a technique that promotes phytoplankton to grow profusely, and includes several methods by which desirable microalgae are produced for the purpose of rearing larval fish and crustaceans. Naturally occurring phytoplankton, which serve as feed for fish and crustacean larvae, are grown and proliferate under a controlled system. This article describes the use of greenwater and co-feeding techniques in the rearing of hilsa, Tenualosa ilisha, principally making use of Chlorella and rotifers.

Development of small-scale aquaculture has dominated development discourse because of its potential to fight malnutrition and poverty, to ensure food security and enhance the socio-economic condition of people living at the bottom of the pyramid. Aquaculture has contributed to strengthening livelihoods and food security in southeast Asian countries, contributing to the livelihood of the poor farmers through improved food supply, income and employment.

An online forum will be held on 16 August to enable technical exchange between policymakers, fishery extension officers, researchers and entrepreneurs in development of the freshwater fisheries industry through technology innovation.

The forum will focus on innovations and developments in freshwater fishery biotech, breeding, culture models, digitisation, and industrialisation, featuring presentations and discussions from experts of international organisations, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Engineering, universities and entrepreneurs in virtual exchanges and discussions. Participation is free but registration is required.

With the implementation of the new aquatic animal disease reporting in the Asia Pacific region from January 2021, and in lieu of the published QAAD Reports (last issue published was 4^th quarter of 2020), NACA is publishing reported aquatic animal diseases submitted by countries in the Asia-Pacific region.  This report covers the fourth quarter of 2021 and the original and updated reports can be accessed from the QAAD page.

In this issue:

• Ornamental Aquaculture Field School: A new extension approach
• State of the art of carp spawn production and transportation at Ramsagar, Bankura District, West Bengal, India
• Seahorse aquaculture: A new paradigm of commercial activity
• Mixed infections in tropical freshwater fish culture systems: A potential emerging threat for successful aquaculture
• NACA Newsletter

The aquatic environment contains many opportunistic pathogens and fish are frequently infected by a range of parasites, bacteria, viruses, and fungi. In most incidences of disease, the involvement of two or more pathogens are often seen, which in turn complicates diagnosis and treatment. Here we present a few case studies on mixed infections in aquaculture systems, which may become more common in future due to changing climatic patterns and associated adverse impacts on water quality. Mixed infections seem to be a big challenge to diagnostic laboratories and health specialists in terms of providing a correct diagnosis and treatment.

For the last five decades or so, West Bengal has been the leading state in India for the production of production and supply of major carp fry, underpinning the success of freshwater fish culture. This article describes the structure of the hatchery industry in Ramsagar, West Bengal, production practices and systems, packing, transport and links to major seed markets both within the state and elsewhere in India. Market price, broodstock management and natural breeding methods are also discussed.

The Farmer Field School approach is promoted by FAO as an alternative technology dissemination mechanism to the top-down extension methods in south-east Asian countries. In order to utilise the potential of the farmer field school approach for aquaculture, ICAR-CIFA has piloted Aquaculture Field Schools (AFS) in several states in India. AFS are schools without walls to improve the decision-making capacity of the farmers and facilitate cross-learning opportunities. It is a participatory extension methodology whereby fish farmers are allowed to choose the methods of aquaculture production through discovery-based approaches. 

The Fish Health Section of the Asian Fisheries Society is inviting you to a Zoom Webinar on Viral Diseases of Aquatic Animals, 1 June at 13:00 Bangkok time (GMT +7).

Participation is free but advance registration is required.

With the implementation of the new aquatic animal disease reporting in the Asia Pacific region from January 2021, and in lieu of the published QAAD Reports (last issue published was 4^th quarter of 2020), NACA is publishing reported aquatic animal diseases submitted by countries in the Asia-Pacific region.  This report covers the fourth quarter of 2021 and the original and updated reports can be accessed from the QAAD page.

This report summaries the proceedings of the 20th meeting of the Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health, held 4-5 November 2021. The meeting discussed: Progress on NACA’s Asia Regional Aquatic Animal Health Program; updates from the OIE Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission; aquaculture biosecurity; Progressive Management Pathway for Improving Aquaculture Biosecurity activities relevant to Asia; a systematic approach for quantifying biosecurity measures in aquaculture; aquatic animal health strategy; updates on the OIE Regional Collaboration Framework on Aquatic Animal Health; and updates on the QAAD Reporting and Disease List.