In this issue:

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia joins NACA; Applications for the position of Director General, NACA; NACA awarded the Aziz-Ul Haq Rural Development Medal; Training Course on Risk Analysis in the Aquaculture Value Chain held in Bangkok; Free FAO publication: Genetic management of Indian major carps; 7th International Symposium on Cage Aquaculture in Asia; PhD scholarships: Shanghai Ocean University PhD Programme 2024; WAS Journal Special Issue: Global Conference on Aquaculture Millennium +20 Thematic Reviews; Seminar on Artemia Research and Production: Videos; Reported aquatic animal diseases in the Asia-Pacific Region during the first quarter of 2023.

Eight thematic reviews prepared as preparation for the Global Conference on Aquaculture Millennium +20 (GCA +20) have been published in a Special Issue of the Journal of the World Aquaculture Society "Aquaculture for Food and Sustainable Development". A group of experts prepared advanced working drafts of each thematic review and the key findings from each theme were presented and discussed by expert panels during the GCA +20. Participants were then invited to provide their feedback and perspectives on the reviews and their key messages for consideration in finalisation of the papers. The reviews are available for free download.

Risk analysis is an essential component of a national aquatic organism health strategy. Now widely applied in many fields, risk analysis provides a science-based framework for evaluating hazards, determining the likelihood and extent of potential harms, mitigating risks and guiding policy decisions. Combining risk and value chain analysis provides a risk-based and people-centred approach to managing disease risks and planning control measures for aquaculture systems. FAO organised a training course on Risk Analysis in the Value Chain from 3-5 September in Bangkok, Thailand, in partnership with NACA, INFOFISH, Thailand Department of Fisheries and the ASEAN Network of Aquatic Animal Health Centres. Financial support was provided by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and Thailand Department of Fisheries.

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 first quarter of 2023 and the original and updated reports can be accessed at the Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease page.

In this issue:

• Pathway to aquaculture biosecurity: Mitigating risks, managing progressively and engaging the value chain
• Important considerations for feed and feeding management during Indian catfish culture
• A transitional journey from fisheries to aquaculture in Moyna
• Colour widow tetra: A new and highly preferred aquarium fish in West Bengal
• Expanding the horizon of aquaculture through women's empowerment
• NACA Newsletter

Management of aquatic organism health by national, regional, international and multistakeholder cooperation is necessary to sustain the growth that has been achieved. Progressive management pathways (PMP) are a convergence of risk management and biosecurity to form an adaptive approach to aquaculture biosecurity (AB) that is responsive and relevant to the resources and capacity that is on hand. The fundamental strategy of PMP/AB is prevention enabled by risk management, requiring an understanding of the drivers, factors and pathways to aquatic disease emergence. This article provides an overview of the role of progressive management pathways for aquaculture biosecurity, practices and progression, the benefits and a way forward.

In this issue:

Artemia side event at the FAO Sub-Committee on Aquaculture, Mexico; Great Salt Lake Brine Shrimp Fishery Meets MSC’s Fishery Standard; Reported Aquatic Animal Diseases in the Asia-Pacific Region during the Fourth Quarter of 2022; Report of the 21st Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health; Thai Fish Project; NACA participates in Coordinating Working Parties on Fisheries Statistics; NACA signs MOU with Cagayan Valley R&D Consortium; Shrimp Summit, 24-26 July, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

FAO, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), NACA and partners have developed the “Progressive Management Pathway for Aquaculture Biosecurity” (PMP/AB), as an extension of the progressive control pathways concept used for controlling major livestock and zoonotic diseases. A Technical Working Group for PMP/AB has been established at the recommendation of the FAO Sub-Committee on Aquaculture.

Expressions of interest are requested from qualified professionals wishing to join the Technical Working Group. Expressions should be submitted by 20 June. Please see the attached announcement for further details.

This report summaries the proceedings of the 21st meeting of the Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health, held 17-18 November 2022. 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.

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 2022 and the original and updated reports can be accessed from the QAAD page.