Exploratory surveys conducted on pristine reef islands has revealed hidden diversity with discovery of two shrimp species new to science, Periclimenella agattii and Urocaridella arabianensis and range extensions for Thor hainanensis and Argeiopsis inhacae. A hands-on training in marine ornamental shrimp rearing was organised at Agatti Island, Lakshadweep during March 2020 to develop a core mass of entrepreneurs to participate in community aquaculture. Another initiative has established a live germplasm resource centre for clownfish, which has ten species conserved in captivity. This facility also serves as a master breeding facility to produce seed for use in a community aquaculture program.

Kashmir Valley is bestowed with abundant water resources in the form of high altitude lakes, wetlands, rivers and springs and the geophysical conditions offer a great scope for fish to thrive. Around 15% of the population has fisheries as a principal source of income. In Kashmir, the dominant active fishing gear is the cast net, known locally as zaal, and cast nets are heavily used in the Dal, Wular, and Manasbal lakes of the valley. This article describes typical designs of cast nets used in the valley.

In this issue:

Hatchery techniques for the seed production of short-necked clams (Paphia undulata) in Nha Trang, Vietnam; Lovesome chum of the aquarium are wreaking havoc in East Kolkata Wetlands, India; Concept of indigenous recirculatory aquaculture system executed in West Bengal, India and other places; Homestead modular hatchery technology of brackishwater catfish, Mystus gulio: A potential alternate livelihood option for small and marginal farmers of Sunderban; NACA Newsletter.

In this issue:

Potential new species in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Sabaki tilapia (Oreochromis spilurus); Role of fish & fisheries in national nutrition of Pakistan; Success story of first fish farmer in India to be awarded ‘Padma Shri’; Insights into the fishing gear and ichthyofauna of major lentic water bodies of Kashmir Valley; NACA Newsletter.

The fisheries sector of Pakistan comprises over 290,000 square kilometres of marine waters and 8.6 million hectares of inland water resources including the world’s largest irrigation system and favourable climatic conditions for aquaculture development. Despite these promising circumstances Pakistan stands thirty-third in world fisheries production. This article considers the true fish production potential of Pakistan and makes a comparison with other regional countries that produce more despite having less water resources, e.g. Bangladesh. Considering the ground reality and gaps in fisheries statistics collection, assessment and reporting, the possibility that fish production and consumption are under reported is explored.