27 June 2026 | R.N. Mandal, S. Adhikari, A. Das, F. Hoque, A. Hussan, S. Sarkar, H.K. De and P.K. Sahoo | 101 Downloads | .pdf | 9.88 MB
In Assam and across north-eastern India, the NGO Kalong-Kapili is helping rural families turn unused ponds, wetlands and beels into a source of food and income. Working with ICAR-CIFA, the organisation began in 2007 at Bagibari village and now runs a Field Laboratory and an Aquaculture Field School that train farmers in scientific fish farming, disease management, climate-resilient practices and integrated farming. This article describes how the model has spread to tribal clusters in Borbeel, Lohit and Lower Siang, benefiting hundreds of families through fish farming combined with horticulture, piggery and kitchen gardens.
It also covers Kalong-Kapili's work to empower women through self-help groups, its production of fish seed, and CIFA's outreach scheme reaching forest-dependent communities in West Karbi Anglong. Together these efforts show how aquaculture extension can reduce poverty and malnutrition while building lasting skills in remote regions.
Along the coast of Purba Medinipur in West Bengal, sun-dried marine fish - known locally as 'Shutki machh' - has grown from a traditional way of saving surplus catch into a thriving regional business. At the Matsya Khoti of Junput-Biramput village, where commercial drying began some 70-75 years ago, around 550-600 producers now sort, salt, and dry fish on raised bamboo platforms before sending it to markets across north-east India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.
This article takes a close look at how the dried fish trade works: the species and methods, the road transport network, the food culture and recipes carried into West Bengal by refugees, the women whose labour underpins much of the work, and asks what is needed to keep this tradition healthy and sustainable.
FAO's State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2026 provides data and insights on the current challenges and opportunities shaping the global seafood sector. This edition focuses on the FAO’s "Blue Transformation" strategy, outlining how field projects and policy initiatives contribute to global food security, poverty alleviation, and economic growth.
The report has three main sections:
Global Status: Updated statistics on production, employment, and trade, supported by improved data collection and analytical tools.
Sector Management: Practical steps being taken to expand aquaculture responsibly, manage wild fisheries effectively, and improve supply chains.
Future Projections: Regional policy measures, climate change research integration, and industry outlooks through 2034.
The publication serves as a factual resource for policymakers, researchers, industry actors, and consumers tracking the development of sustainable aquatic food systems. You can explore the data that SOFIA 2026 is based on in our Aquaculture Statistics Dashboard.
NACA recently participated in the FAO Expert Workshop, "Turning guidance into action: regional insights for implementing the Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture," held from 24-25 February 2026 in Rome, Italy. The Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture (GSA) provide a shared set of principles and recommendations to promote a sustainable, equitable aquaculture sector worldwide. While the guidelines offer a clear vision for the sector's economic, social, and environmental future, the current focus is on practical implementation.
Building on recent regional workshops, experts gathered to develop a decision-support tool to help countries adapt these guidelines into actionable national policies. Implementing the GSA requires robust institutional support, targeted capacity building, and innovative financing. NACA encourages stakeholders to integrate these guidelines into their governance frameworks, providing a roadmap to maximize aquaculture's contribution to food security and environmental conservation.
22 January 2026 | Babita Mandal, Dani Thomas, Raymond J. Angel, Sandeep K.P., Sagar Bag, M. Kailasam, Debasis De, Kuldeep K. Lal | 454 Downloads | .pdf | 5.56 MB
Small-scale farmers in the Indian Sundarbans are transforming their livelihoods through brackishwater ornamental fish farming. The region's estuaries and mangrove forests provide natural habitat for commercially valuable species like spotted scat, green puffer, pearlspot, and orange chromide. With training from ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture's Kakdwip Research Centre, local entrepreneurs have developed successful hatchery and grow-out operations.
Three farmers from Kakdwip Block demonstrate the sector's potential. Mr Tapan Maity produces 1,000-3,000 fingerlings monthly from his integrated facility. Mr Mahendra Dului operates a 32-tank hatchery using cost-effective farm-made feeds. Mr Aurobindo Haldar cleared his debts within three years of starting pearlspot production. These farmers combine scientific broodstock management with local knowledge to rear juveniles for urban pet markets in Kolkata and Howrah. The expanding domestic and export demand for brackishwater ornamental species offers sustainable income opportunities for coastal communities facing challenges from climate vulnerability and limited livelihood options.
India's inland waters produce 70% of the nation's fish, yet up to 20% spoils before reaching consumers due to poor post-harvest handling. In Tripura, where people consume fish at four times the national average, a surprising entrepreneurial story is emerging from this challenge.
At Agartala's Durga Chowmuhani market, 22 young people have turned fish dressing into profitable businesses. Working four-hour morning shifts, these mostly unemployed youth earn Rs. 530-680 daily, incomes exceeding the state average, by cleaning small indigenous fish that retailers refuse to process. Their startup cost was just Rs. 500 for a specialised knife and Rs. 50 daily for market space.
This informal sector reveals strong market demand and employment potential. However, challenges remain: inadequate hygiene facilities, limited cold storage, and variable food safety standards. The path forward involves supporting what works - strengthening informal businesses with training, better tools, and gradual infrastructure improvements rather than waiting for large-scale formal facilities.
21 January 2026 | S.K. Sahoo, A.K. Sahu, A. Das, B.C. Mohapatra, P.P. Chakraborty, N.K. Barik, A.K. Chaudhari, S.N. Sahoo, S.S. Giri, and P.K. Sahoo | 407 Downloads | .pdf | 1.67 MB
Access to quality seed has long constrained aquaculture of magur, a high-value indigenous catfish prized across north-eastern India. Wild stocks have declined, yet demand continues to rise. In Nalbari district of Assam, scientists and farmers have created a solution. ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture worked with local farmers to establish more than 25 magur hatcheries using innovative fibreglass-reinforced plastic designs suited to flood-prone conditions. Farmers received training in captive breeding, hormone-induced spawning, and larval rearing using specialised feeds. Individual farmers now produce 300,000-500,000 fry per season, earning substantial income while supplying seed across multiple districts. The model shows how targeted capacity building, appropriate technology, and farmer-centred interventions can transform indigenous fish seed production from a critical bottleneck into a thriving regional enterprise. Approximately 70 farmers now actively supply magur seed where scarcity once limited aquaculture expansion.
3 December 2025 | Karthik Kumar Goud Palsam, Ankush L. Kamble and Sai Krishna Veeranki | 631 Downloads | .pdf | 2.9 MB
Asian seabass has emerged as a promising alternative to shrimp farming in coastal Andhra Pradesh. This article documents the complete production cycle practiced by farmers in Krishna, Eluru and West Godavari districts, from wild egg collection to market-ready fish.
The production process spans 14-16 months across multiple phases: two nursery stages transform eggs into fingerlings, a pre-grow-out phase develops juveniles to 100-200 g, and a final grow-out period produces fish weighing 3-4 kg. Farmers rely heavily on live feed, primarily small shrimp and tilapia, with feed conversion ratios around 6:1.
While the species offers advantages such as fast growth and salinity tolerance, farmers face challenges including fluctuating export prices, rising feed costs and disease outbreaks. The lack of species-specific therapeutics further complicates disease management. Most harvested seabass currently reaches export markets through Kolkata and Chennai, though opportunities exist for domestic value-added products.
In Purba Medinipur, India's leading fisheries district, two farmers are exploring new directions in aquaculture. Sri Buddhadeb Maity has established commercial farming of the prized murrel (Channa striatus), achieving growth rates of 250-300g within two months. His neighbour, Sri Uttam Manna, has taken an unconventional approach: cultivating freshwater aquarium fish in brackishwater ponds near the Bay of Bengal.
Manna's method challenges established practice. He has observed fewer disease problems than those typically encountered in freshwater aquarium fish operations, potentially due to the salt content in his ponds helping to control pathogens. Both farmers have developed profitable enterprises whilst sharing their methods with neighbouring producers, encouraging diversification across the region.
The third High-Level Meeting on Aquaculture Transformation assessed progress towards 2030 transformation goals and identified priority actions for the Asia-Pacific region. The meeting report, covering discussions held 1-2 July 2025 in Shanghai, documents findings from representatives of NACA member governments, FAO and regional organisations.
Participants identified multiple barriers to sustainable intensification: farmer scepticism about unfamiliar technologies, limited access to expertise, and misaligned incentives that prioritise profit over environmental responsibility. Investment remains concentrated at higher levels rather than reaching small-scale producers. The discussions emphasised collaborative approaches, knowledge-based farming systems, and the need to document aquaculture's positive social impacts.
NACA and FAO will continue supporting National Innovation and Investment Plans in India, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Future work includes establishing an Aquaculture Innovation and Investment Hub and developing monitoring systems to track transformation progress across the region.
A free webinar "Farming resilience: Unlocking the Artemia opportunity" will be held on 30 October from 8:00-11:00 EST (13:00-16:00 UTC). This webinar will present the results of an in-depth analysis of Artemia production, conservation and investment opportunities by the World Bank Group, with expert input from members of the International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium.
Artemia (brine shrimp) is a critical live feed in aquaculture, particularly in hatcheries for shrimp, fish, and ornamental species. Its production and sustainable management are increasingly important as aquaculture expands globally. Global Artemia markets face increasing demand, while new innovations in farming, processing, and conservation offer opportunities for inclusive investment, resilience, and biodiversity protection.
This event will bring together global experts, policymakers, private sector representatives, and development partners to discuss the state of Artemia production and conservation, market opportunities, regulatory frameworks, and pathways for sustainable and viable investment.
Bangkok, 21-22 October 2025 - Thailand convened a two-day workshop at the Department of Fisheries to shape a National Innovation and Investment Plan (NIIP) for aquaculture. The meeting formed part of FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme project TCP/RAS/4004, implemented with NACA, which is supporting India, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam to prepare NIIPs and link them into a shared Aquaculture Transformation Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning System (ATMS) for Asia and the Pacific.
Small indigenous fish species (SIS) are common in South and Southeast Asian inland waters and are often eaten whole. This article reviews evidence that SIS provide bioavailable vitamin A, iron, zinc, calcium and B12, alongside protein and long-chain omega-3s. It examines practical options for including SIS in carp ponds and rice-fish systems, drawing on recent field programmes, and identifies constraints, especially the seasonal, unreliable supply of seed from capture fisheries. The article considers which species are realistic candidates for hatchery production and what husbandry is required. The aim is to give producers, extension staff and policymakers a clear view of when SIS integration adds value, and what investments are needed to pilot and scale it responsibly.
16 October 2025 | R.N. Mandal, S. Adhikari, H.K. De, A. Das, F. Houque, A. Hussan, S. Sarkar, B.N. Paul and P.K. Sahoo | 831 Downloads | .pdf | 4.19 MB
How can small farms boost fish yields, cut feed bills and earn from more than one crop at a time? In Meghalaya’s Ri Bhoi district, one farmer shows the way with an integrated fish-duck-poultry system across four linked ponds. Ducks and poultry “pay their rent” by fertilising the water, which powers natural food webs for carp and rohu; simple gravity flow spreads nutrients and improves aeration. Over an eight-month cycle, the farm sells fish, ducks, poultry, eggs and even dyke crops like banana and turmeric - while keeping inputs low and water quality stable. This practical case study explains the layout, stocking plan and daily management behind the results, and why integrated aquaculture is a smart, climate-resilient option for small holders.
Pathum Thani, 5-6 October - NACA participated in the 3rd AQUADAPT Peer-Learning Event at the Asian Institute of Technology Conference Center. Partners reviewed progress on nature-based solutions (NbS) in aquaculture, shared experience and set priorities for the year ahead. The two-day programme combined project presentations, a world-café on climate resilience, and working sessions designed to turn research insights into practice.
The AquaHub project of NACA and FutureFish led a working session on “Knowledge brokering: Private sector engagement and nature-based and inclusive business models,” convening researchers and practitioners to sharpen strategies for scaling NbS through market actors across the value chain, from small-scale farmers and associations to SMEs and larger enterprises. Discussion centred on pragmatic engagement models that can connect research outcomes to investable, inclusive business opportunities.
9 October 2025 | Hana Bahi, Osamah Ahmad, Pedro Guemes, Benjamin C. Young, Hussain Alnazry, Saif Algethami, and Ali Al Shaikhi | 875 Downloads | .pdf | 1.62 MB
Saudi Arabia’s coastal communities are opening new pathways for women in aquaculture and fisheries. Under the REEF programme led by MEWA, recent pilots have shifted participation from office-based roles toward hands-on production and processing. Seaweed farming trials of Gracilaria multipartita in Jeddah and the Farasan Islands show why: accessible tasks, modest equipment needs, and suitability for community-run operations. In parallel, a women-led seafood processing initiative in the Farasan Islands has provided training, essential tools, and branding skills, improving hygiene and product quality and motivating participants to form cooperatives; a tuna-canning exercise highlighted the potential for higher value capture.
