This is a draft conservation strategy for the Mekong giant catfish prepared under the project Development of a conservation strategy for the critically endangered Mekong giant catfish, released for public consultation. The strategy considers the population and legal status, conservation vision and goals, factors affecting the wild population and outlines a conservation strategy. The document also considers monitoring, research and adaptive management and implementation issues given the transboundary and multi-institutional nature requirements for effective implementation.

In this issue:

From integrated carp polyculture to intensive monoculture in the Pearl River Delta, China. Better management practices for Vietnamese catfish. Ipomoea aquatica - an aquaculture friendly macrophyte. Status of fisheries and aquaculture development in Pakistan. The changing face of post-grad education in aquaculture: Contributing to soaring production and sustainable practices. Hatchery management in Bangladesh. Production of Cirrhinus molitorella and Labeo chrysophekadion for culture-based fisheries in Lao PDR and much more.

This manual provides practical advice on good management practices for sustainable freshwater prawn (scampi) farming in India. The manual covers general principles of sustainable farming, relevant legal issues including for hatcheries, land and water use, impact on natural habitats, hatchery, nursery and growout management, and environmental and social responsibility. The manual was developed via a multi-stakeholder consultation held at the Head Office of the National Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture (NaCSA), Kakinada, 6-7 December 2007.

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 2007, 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.

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 2006, 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.

This paper provides an overview of seafood consumption production in southeast Asia circa 2006. It forecasts a need for aquaculture to expand area under culture and intensity; highlights the potential for fishmeal to constrain growth, and identifies a trend towards cultivation of high-value species. Sources for the review included a regional synthesis of aquaculture developed for a regional workshop in 2005, a review of marine finfish hatchery development and a regional survey of cage fish culture.

In this issue:

High-health postlarvae a prerequisite for sustainability of the Indian shrimp industry. Broodstock and all-female scampi grow out ponds in south India. Genetically modified fish and potential applications. Rainbow trout farming in hill terraces of Nepal. Sugar industry by-products as plankton boosters and yield enhancers in carp culture. Growth and production of Penaeus monodon in low saline culture systems. Poor households raise prawns for export. Marine fish marketing in Bangladesh.

White tail disease in Macrobrachium rosenbergii is emerging as a serious problem in the region. Two viruses, M. rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNA) and extra small virus (XSV) have been found to be associated. The role of MrNV and XSV is not yet clear. Considering the economic impact and potential for the disease to spread, white tail disease (MrNV and XSV) has been listed under non-OIE listed crustacean diseases relevant to the region and NACA/FAO/OIE Regional QAAD list.

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 2005, 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.

Self-recruiting species are defined as aquatic animals that can be harvested from farmer managed aquatic systems without regular stocking. This may include indigenous or introduced, small or larger species. Identified self-recruiting species in the Red River Delta includes exotic species (tilapia), large (snakehead, walking catfish and river catfish) and small (Anabas and Carassius auratus) indigenous fish species and non-fish species (freshwater shrimp and crabs).