A new FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report, Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) or Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Syndrome (AHPNS) of Cultured Shrimp, focuses on this emerging disease that has devastated the shrimp industry of China, Malaysia, Thailand and Viet Nam over the last three years.

Under the FAO technical cooperation project (TCP/VIE/3304 (E)) Emergency assistance to control the spread of an unknown disease affecting shrimp, this final technical consultation on “Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) or Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Syndrome (APHNS) of Cultured Shrimp” was jointly organised by FAO and Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development from 25-27 June 2013, Prestige Hotel, Hanoi, Viet Nam.

In this issue:

A second trip to Hubei Province, central China. Sea cage growout of cobia Rachycentron canadum in the Gulf of Mannar. Culture of small indigenous fish species in polyculture with Indian major carps and high value crops along pond dykes. Study on sperm chilled storage of common carp Cyprinus carpio in Vietnam. Culture-based fisheries exchanges between Lao PDR and Cambodia. Culprit behind massive shrimp die-offs in Asia unmasked.

In this issue:

Culture-based fisheries exchanges between Lao PDR and Cambodia. Culprit behind massive shrimp die-offs in Asia unmasked. Presentations from the final technical consultation on EMS/AHPNS of shrimp available for download. Aquaculture certification workshop held in Viet Nam. Aquaculture in a genetic plunge towards extinction? NACA implements World Bank training program on Good Aquaculture Practices. Study tour on aquaculture and wetland management for delegation from Assam, India. Koh Yao Noi Tree Bank and mangrove replanting continues. Consistent fish names key to consumer confidence. We are hiring! Request for contributions: Global Advances in Ecology and Management of Golden Apple Snails (2nd edition).

Artisanal shrimp aquaculture is in a disease-induced crisis of lost production. The immediate cause is biological: rising levels of inbreeding and a strong, positive relationship between inbreeding and disease. The root cause is social: a nexus of human behavior in which breeders protect their intellectual property by generating inbreeding, local hatcheries sell copied, inbred shrimp, and farmers suffer the consequences.

In a major breakthrough, researchers at the University of Arizona have identified the causative agent behind "shrimp early mortality syndrome" or EMS, more accurately known as acute hepatopancreatic necrosis syndrome. The causative agent is a strain of a bacteria commonly found in brackish water, Vibrio parahemolyticus, with possible involvement of a phage. Very encouraging news. Congratulations to Dr Lightner's team and all that have assisted with the search for the culprit - Ed.

In this issue:

Workshop on mainstreaming gender in NACA. Fish Farmer Field School: Towards healthier milkfish / shrimp polyculture and fish farmer empowerment in South Sulawesi. A success story of Maa Tarini Self Help Group Ornamental Fish Unity, India. Use of lactic acid bacteria in fish farming. AFSPAN field surveys underway. Anti-viral treatment for healthier black tiger prawns. Jungle perch on the comeback trail. Nursery management of grouper manual. Hatchery management of tiger group manual.

In this issue:

Call for applications (2nd round): FK Norway South-South Aquaculture Professional Exchange Programme. AFSPAN field surveys underway! 4th Global Symposium on Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries. An anti-viral treatment for healthier black tiger prawns. Jungle perch on the comeback trail. Nursery management of grouper: A best-practice manual (Indonesian translation). Hatchery management of tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus): A best-practice manual (Indonesian translation). Priority adaptations to climate change for Pacific fisheries and aquaculture: Reducing risks and capitalising on opportunities. Improving biosecurity through prudent and responsible use of veterinary medicines in aquatic food production.

Since the Asia Pacific Emergency Regional Consultation on EMS/AHPNS held in August 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand, many news reports have been widely circulated that have led to various baseless speculations and conclusions on the true nature of AHPNS. This disease update/advisory has been issued to address the many circulating false and baseless speculations on the effects and spread of AHPNS in the region.

The Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health meets annually to discuss regional health issues including emerging disease threats. This report includes a review of regional disease status circa 2012, global and regional disease reporting arrangements, global issues and standards, progress in implementation of the the Regional Technical Guidelines on Health management for the Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals, identification and designation of regional aquatic animal health resources and regional and international cooperation.