We are passing through an era of increasing population, food shortages and unsustainable farming practices. We cannot think of food security unless issues connected with poverty and livelihoods are addressed. Since 75 percent of global aquaculture production comes from small-scale farms in developing countries we have to address a number of issues to ensure that the livelihoods and food security of all those involved in the sector are not threatened.

Between 70 and 80 percent of Asian farmers are estimated to be small-scale farmers. It is clear that increasing globalisation and the resultant trade liberalisation of aquaculture products is leading towards the marginalisation and exclusion of individual small-scale producers. There is a need for changing the management of both large- and small-scale producers to remain competitive. Recent experiences show that establishment of farmer societies are effective.

Aquaculture as a household, community and agribusiness-based activity to supply human food and other products and contribute to the alleviation of poverty is explored in this overview. The multiple natures of poverty and the concepts of escaping from and slipping into poverty are explored with reference to aquaculture contexts. Aquaculture as a driver for development is reviewed and found to contribute to poverty alleviation in both transformative and incremental modes and at various scales.

Presentation of the summary, conclusions and recommendations of Thematic Session 6 (Enhancing the contribution of aquaculture to poverty alleviation, food security and rural development).

The Phuket Consensus is a declaration on aquaculture development endorsed by participants of the Global Conference on Aquaculture 2010, held in Phuket, Thailand, 22-25 September. The consensus builds on the Bangkok Declaration, which was formulated at the International Conference on Aquaculture in the Third Millennium, held in Bangkok, 20-25 February 2000. The consensus and declaration provide strategic guidance on sustainable development of aquaculture considering social, environmental, technical and economic issues.

In this issue:

Vietnamese catfish - better management practices update. Is this the perfect prawn? Fish Oil Replacement and Alternative Lipid Sources in Aquaculture Feeds. Multilingual CD-ROM of FAO cultured aquatic species fact sheets. Aquaclimate Annual Progress Report 2010. Training course on application of business management principles in small-scale aquaculture.

In this issue:

The Dedanaw Project, Myanmar. The changing face of women for small-scale aquaculture in Bangladesh. Strengthening capacity of small holders in ASEAN. Carp seed production in Orissa, India. Sustainable mountain paddy-fish farming of the Apatani tribes. The economic impacts of whitespot virus on shrimp production in Iran. Current practices of marine finfish cage culture in China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Effects of trash fish on growth and body composition of cobia.

The production from inland capture fisheries in Thailand is about 1 million tonnes per annum. Engineering the environment and fish stocking are the two major practices adopted, and closed-season fishing as well as control of fishing gears are used for conservation purposes. Fish stocking programs date back to the 1950s have been continuously conducted. This presentation provides a historical perspective on stock enhancement practices in Thailand since the 1950s.

In this issue:

Mussel farming initiatives in North Kerala, India. Selective study on availability of indigenous fish with ornamental value in West Bengal. Aquaculture livelihoods centre in Aceh, Indonesia. e-Sagu Aqua - an innovative information and communication technology model for transfer of technology for aquaculture. Freshwater pearl crop: An emerging enterprise in the Indian subcontinent. Preliminary risk assessment of Pacific white shrimp (P. vannamei) introduced to Thailand for aquaculture. Black gill disease of lobster and more.

The vegetation in Mahakam Delta is predominantly mangrove forest that consists of a pedada zone, Rizophora zone, transition zone, Nipa zone and nibung zone. Prior to 1980, mangrove vegetation in Mahakam Delta was pristine. Considerable changes in the extent of mangrove ecosystem occurred between 1990-2002 until 2001 when about 63% mangrove areas was deforested mainly due to conversion for shrimp ponds. Since 2002, partial efforts for restoration had been taken in mangrove replanting at some sites.