Health and Biosecurity

In this issue:

• AquaInnovate 2: Scaling nature-based solutions and regional synergy in Bangkok.
• Translucent post-larvae disease (TPD): Disease card.
• Strengthening the partnership: NACA welcomes new Director General of Thai DOF.
• Insights from the FAO Expert Workshop on Sustainable Aquaculture.
• Advancing global collaboration for sustainable aquaculture in Fuzhou, China.
• Reported Aquatic Animal Diseases in during the Third and Fourth Quarters of 2025.
• Scholarships for Master’s Degree in Aquaculture and Fisheries, China 2026.
• Report of the 24th Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health.

On 28 April 2026, the NACA Secretariat was privileged to welcome Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary of the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MOFAHD), Government of India. Dr. Likhi, who led a high-level delegation from the Indian Embassy, visited NACA’s Bangkok headquarters to engage in discussions aimed at deepening the collaborative bonds between India and the regional aquaculture community.

The visit underscored India’s pivotal role as a founding member of NACA. For decades, India has remained a cornerstone of the organisation, contributing significantly through the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). During the meeting with NACA Director General Dr. Eduardo Leano, the delegation discussed advancing regional aquaculture development with a specific focus on aquatic disease surveillance and transboundary knowledge exchange, sharing insights on how innovation can further modernise the sector.

This disease card provides an overview of Translucent Post-larvae Disease (TPD), a highly infectious and lethal disease known (thus far) to infect Penaeus vannamei, P. chinensis and P. japonicus mainly in post-larvae of four to seven days age (PL2~PL7). TPD can cause morbidity of up to 60% in 24 hours after clinical signs and up to 90-100% mortality in severe cases on the second to third day.

This card details the causative agent (a Vibrio spp. carrying the Vibrio high virulent protein VHP-1 and VHVP-2), host range, geographical distribution, epidemiology, prevention and control measures, histopathology, molecular diagnostics, expert contact and references.

This report summarises the proceedings of the 24th meeting of the Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health, held 24-25 November 2025 by video conference. The role of the group is to review trends in disease and emerging threats in the region, identify developments in global disease issues and standards, to evaluate the Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease Reporting Program and to provide guidance on regional strategies to improve aquatic animal health management.

Reports received in 2025 only came from few member governments including: Australia, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Saudi Arabia. Listed below are the reported aquatic animal diseases covering the third and fourth quarters of 2025 (with first and second quarter reports from Chinese Taipei).  The original and updated reports can be accessed at the QAAD page.

In this issue:

• Thailand charts aquaculture transformation plan at Bangkok workshop.
• Report of the 3rd High-Level Meeting on Aquaculture Transformation in Asia and the Pacific Region.
• AquaHub Vision Workshop: Setting a direction.
• AquaHub private-sector engagement discussion at Third AQUADAPT Peer Learning Event.
• Veterinary training programme: Fundamentals of farm health management in aquaculture.
• Reported aquatic animal diseases in the Asia-Pacific region during the first and second quarters of 2025.
• PhD scholarships in marine sciences: Shanghai Ocean University PhD Programme 2026.

Reports received in 2025, as of the 2nd quarter, only came from few member governments including: Australia, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Saudi Arabia. Listed below are the reported aquatic animal diseases covering the first and second quarters of 2025.  The original and updated reports can be accessed at the Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease report page.

The World Veterinary Education in Production Animal Health (WVEPAH) invites applications for Module I: Fundamentals of Farm Health Management in Aquaculture - part of a certification programme leading to worldwide recognition in Aquaculture Production and Health, delivered by Université de Montréal and validated by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

This advanced hybrid training combines 40 hours of online learning with a residential week at James Cook University, Singapore, from 2-6 March 2026. The programme prepares aquaculture professionals to support farmers in disease prevention, biosecurity, surveillance, and product quality at farm, watershed, and national levels.

The course adopts a One Health approach, covering environment, nutrition, farm management, physiology, pathology, biosecurity, diagnostics, epidemiology, and international regulations. Through field visits and diagnostic laboratories, participants develop practical skills in necropsy, sampling, and case analysis.

Early bird registration (€2,400) closes 2 January 2026; regular fee €2,600.

The third Asia-Pacific Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program for Aquatic Animal Diseases has been launched, with a regional workshop in Bangkok bringing together 50 people from 13 countries and territories across the region. The program, supported by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, builds on more than a decade of collaboration to strengthen diagnostic capacity, safeguard aquaculture livelihoods, and support safe trade and food security.

ShrimpGuard, developed by BIOTEC, NSTDA, and Kasetsart University in Thailand, is a phage-based innovation for managing shrimp health. It targets Vibrio infections using bacteriophages combined with immune-boosting agents, reducing antimicrobial use while improving farm productivity and sustainability across ASEAN. The project also engages farmers directly through training, outreach, and field trials to ensure practical application and lasting benefits for coastal communities and the wider aquaculture sector. This pitch was presented by Wanilada Rungrassamee of BIOTEC.

QS Aqua Technology, a startup from the InnoHub Program of Universiti Putra Malaysia, develops nature-based probiotic solutions for sustainable aquaculture. Their approach combines beneficial bacteria that support gut health and maintain balanced pond ecosystems with quorum sensing inhibition compounds from microalgae. These compounds block harmful bacteria from communicating, preventing disease outbreaks and reducing dependence on antibiotics. By improving pond health and resilience through microbial and algal innovations, QS Aqua Technology offers farmers safer, more sustainable tools to manage aquaculture production. This pitch was presented by Maya Liyana Hamzah of QS Aqua Technology.

Kitiya Vongkamjan, co-founder of UniFAHS, shares the journey of building a pioneering phage biotechnology company in Thailand. UniFAHS develops bacteriophage-based solutions to tackle antimicrobial resistance and improve food safety in agriculture, aquaculture, livestock, and food processing. UniFAHS was recognised as a Global Finalist in the Extreme Tech Challenge 2022 and has grown into a venture-backed startup, raising USD 1.4 million in seed funding from A2D Ventures, ADB Ventures, and InnoSpace (Thailand). The story highlights how cutting-edge science can be transformed into scalable commercial solutions with real-world impact.

In this presentation, Fabian Reusch, founder of HydroNeo, shares the story of how HydroNeo began and the lessons learned along the way of building a tech startup in Thailand. Aimed at fellow aquaculture entrepreneurs and startup founders, his talk is an open and honest reflection on the realities of the journey — not a polished, glamorous pitch that only highlights the wins, but a candid look at both successes and setbacks, the difficult decisions, and the ongoing challenges that shape the real path of building a company.

Mariska Bottema (WorldFish) and Rebecca McMillan (IDRC) discuss the concept of nature-based aquaculture, why it matters for innovation and entrepreneurship, and how it can support ecosystems, communities, and profitability. Topics include: Defining nature-based aquaculture and its connection to nature-based solutions; criteria such as climate resilience, ecosystem health, reduced antimicrobial use, and inclusivity; global examples: mangrove–shrimp integration, women-led seaweed farming, integrated multi-trophic systems, and rice–fish farming; supportive technologies including IoT, renewable energy, and life cycle assessment; and opportunities for entrepreneurs: resilient farms, reduced risks, lower costs, premium markets, funding, and partnerships.

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.

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.

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.

In this issue:

• From risk to resilience: Innovative crop insurance solutions for securing shrimp aquaculture in India
• Efforts to rejuvenate primary fisher cooperative societies in South 24 Parganas District, West Bengal
• Captive production of Gangetic mystus (Mystus cavasius): A guide for farmers
• Shrimp farm biosecurity in Saudi Arabia: A journey from past practices to future vision
• Wolffia globosa (duckweed) in aquafeeds for profitability and eco-friendly sustainable aquaculture
• NACA Newsletter

Shrimp aquaculture in Saudi Arabia has evolved significantly since its inception in the 1990s, transitioning from freshwater tilapia farming to large-scale marine shrimp production, primarily focused on Penaeus vannamei. This shift was driven by market demand, environmental suitability, and the impact of disease outbreaks such as white spot syndrome. However, early development faced major biosecurity challenges, including inadequate regulation, limited local hatchery capacity, insufficient disease monitoring, and a lack of trained personnel.

In recent years, the Ministry of Environment, Water & Agriculture (MEWA) has undertaken a comprehensive reform of shrimp farm biosecurity, aligned with the country’s Vision 2030 objectives. This includes regulatory controls on live shrimp imports, development of disease monitoring infrastructure, biosecurity training, and enhanced collaboration with private sector and academic institutions. MEWA has also promoted technology transfer, workforce development, and sustainable hatchery expansion. While progress is evident, future priorities include improving local broodstock availability, expanding real-time disease diagnostics, and strengthening biosecurity human resource capacity to ensure long-term industry stability and resilience.

The Fish Health Section of the Asian Fisheries Society (FHS-AFS) invites everyone to the 12th Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture (DAA12), to be held from 23-27 September 2025 in Chennai, India. DAA12 continues the legacy of the DAA series by providing an exceptional platform for researchers, industry professionals, and students to come together and share their expertise in the vital field of aquatic animal health.


We warmly invite researchers, industry professionals, academia, and students to join this exciting symposium and collaborate on sustainable solutions for aquaculture's future. Mark your calendars for an unforgettable experience in DAA12 at Chennai, India!