The Gangetic mystus (Mystus cavasius) is a small indigenous freshwater catfish valued for its taste and nutritional qualities, with high market demand across South Asia. This article offers a practical guide for farmers on the captive breeding and production of M. cavasius, encompassing key stages from broodstock management to grow-out culture. Captive production methods are critical for ensuring seed availability and enhancing the commercial viability of this species. The article outlines protocols for brood selection, hormone-induced breeding, egg fertilisation, larval rearing, and fingerling development, with emphasis on water quality, feed regimes, and optimal stocking densities.

Special attention is given to improving larval survival through early indoor rearing, proper husbandry, and the use of live and formulated feeds. The slow-growing nature of M. cavasius necessitates low-density stocking and extended grow-out periods, typically yielding less than 1 tonne/ha/year. Despite the modest productivity, the species commands strong regional demand at 30–40 g market size. The guide also addresses common health issues and preventive practices, stressing the importance of water quality and early disease intervention.

This article examines recent initiatives to rejuvenate primary Fisher Cooperative Societies (FCSs) in South 24 Parganas District, West Bengal, highlighting their critical role in advancing sustainable fisheries, rural livelihoods, and social protection. It outlines the structural, administrative, and policy frameworks that support FCS operations, particularly the government’s lease-based allocation of large freshwater bodies to cooperatives. The article also reviews the election procedures conducted under the West Bengal Cooperative Societies Act to reconstitute governance in 43 active societies, ensuring compliance and eligibility for state support.

Through detailed case data and programme reports, the article documents the outcomes of targeted schemes such as input distribution for sewage-fed and large-scale fish culture, equipment provisioning, pension benefits, and capacity-building training. It emphasises the cooperative model's effectiveness in managing natural resources, strengthening community self-governance, and enhancing productivity. With a focus on practical reforms and institutional accountability, the South 24 Parganas experience offers insights into scaling cooperative-led fisheries development in similar socio-ecological contexts.

India's brackishwater aquaculture sector, particularly shrimp farming, holds immense potential but remains largely underexploited despite its significant contribution to global shrimp production and exports. Small-scale farmers, who form the backbone of this industry, face substantial challenges including limited access to credit and insurance, poor management practices, and vulnerability to disease outbreaks and extreme weather events. These risks lead to considerable crop losses and hinder the sector's stability and growth. This article underscores the critical role of crop insurance as a vital risk management tool to mitigate these financial losses, secure livelihoods, and promote the sustainable development of shrimp aquaculture in India.

This article details the risks associated with shrimp farming, such as climatic events, disease outbreaks, market volatility, and financial constraints. It also outlines comprehensive risk management strategies, including the adoption of better management practices, biosecurity measures, and contingency planning. The article identifies key challenges faced by both farmers and insurers and presents innovative solutions and strategic recommendations for developing more effective and inclusive shrimp crop insurance products.

With the implementation of new aquatic animal disease reporting arrangements from January 2021 NACA is publishing reported aquatic animal diseases submitted by countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This report covers the fourth quarter of 2024 and the original and updated reports can be accessed from the QAAD page.

The Fish Health Section of the Asian Fisheries Society (FHS-AFS) invites everyone to the 12th Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture (DAA12), to be held from 23-27 September 2025 in Chennai, India. DAA12 continues the legacy of the DAA series by providing an exceptional platform for researchers, industry professionals, and students to come together and share their expertise in the vital field of aquatic animal health.


We warmly invite researchers, industry professionals, academia, and students to join this exciting symposium and collaborate on sustainable solutions for aquaculture's future. Mark your calendars for an unforgettable experience in DAA12 at Chennai, India!

In this issue:

• Promoting farmed shrimp consumption in India’s domestic market: A step towards sustainability
• Leveraging indigenous minor carp for sustainable aquaculture in Northeast India
• Shaping the future of Indian aquaculture: A path to captive catfish seed success
• Sustainable freshwater snail farming: Advancing nutrition security and rural livelihoods in Northeast India
• Promotion and protection of small fish species through farming: An initiative in Tripura
• NACA Newsletter

Small indigenous fish species (SIS) are a rich source of essential nutrients, including proteins, vitamins, and minerals, making them a vital component of rural diets. Despite their nutritional significance, SIS are often undervalued and excluded from aquaculture in favor of larger commercial species.

This study highlights an initiative by ICAR-CIFA in Tripura to promote and protect small fish species through sustainable farming practices. Training programs were conducted to educate local farmers on breeding, feeding, and rearing techniques tailored to SIS. Live food production was emphasised to improve larval survival rates, and mixed-species culture strategies were developed to enhance production efficiency. The initiative demonstrated that small fish farming is a viable livelihood option, particularly in backyard water bodies, providing food security, income generation, and biodiversity conservation.

Northeast India faces significant nutrition security challenges, particularly in rural and tribal areas, where high stunting and anemia rates persist despite high per capita caloric intake. This article explores sustainable freshwater snail farming as a viable solution to address these nutritional deficiencies while enhancing rural livelihoods.

Freshwater snails, such as Pila globosa, Bellamya bengalensis, and Brotia costula, offer high protein content and essential minerals, particularly calcium and iron. Their nutritional value surpasses many plant-based protein sources and compares well with traditional livestock products. The study outlines three practical snail farming systems suited to different farming conditions. Economic analysis reveals that a small-scale backyard system can generate up to 1,800 kg of snails annually, yielding a 272% return on investment within five months. With proper training, infrastructure, and market linkages, freshwater snail farming can play a useful role in improving food security, economic resilience, and rural development in Northeast India.

Indian aquaculture has expanded beyond major carps to include diverse species such as catfish, driven by high consumer demand for their taste, soft flesh, and live marketability. However, the sector faces a major challenge: the lack of captive seed production. Relying on wild seed collection is unsustainable, necessitating the development of controlled breeding techniques. This article provides an overview of induced breeding and seed production methods for key catfish species, including Clarias batrachus, Heteropneustes fossilis, Wallago attu, Ompok spp., Mystus cavasius, Rita chrysea, Horabagrus brachysoma, and Pangasius pangasius. By adopting these techniques, Indian fish farmers can enhance catfish seed availability, supporting the government’s push for aquaculture diversification. Sustainable captive breeding will reduce pressure on wild populations while ensuring a reliable supply of high-quality catfish seed for commercial farming.

Northeast India, a region rich in freshwater biodiversity, has significant potential for aquaculture development, yet faces challenges due to its hilly terrain, cold climate, and limited availability of suitable fish species. Indigenous minor carps, such as Labeo bata, L. gonius, Cirrhinus reba, Osteobrama belangeri, Bangana devdevi, and B. dero, offer a promising alternative to Indian major carps due to their adaptability to local conditions, shorter culture periods, and high market demand. These species perform well in lower temperatures, shallow waters, and seasonal ponds, making them ideal for sustainable aquaculture in mid- and high-altitude areas. Their omnivorous feeding habits allow for cost-effective diets, reducing reliance on expensive commercial feed. Expanding minor carp aquaculture will contribute to food security, economic growth, and the conservation of native fish species in Northeast India.

India's shrimp farming industry plays a crucial role in the national economy, with Penaeus vannamei dominating production and exports. Despite India being one of the world's largest shrimp producers, domestic shrimp consumption remains low. This article explores the economic significance of farmed shrimp, the challenges faced by shrimp farmers in West Bengal, and the potential for expanding the domestic market to enhance industry sustainability. Promoting farmed shrimp consumption within India is a viable strategy to stabilize the industry. Increasing consumer awareness of shrimp’s health benefits, developing efficient distribution networks, and leveraging marketing initiatives could enhance domestic demand. Government agencies, industry associations, and private enterprises must collaborate to establish shrimp as a mainstream protein source in Indian diets, thereby ensuring long-term sustainability for shrimp farmers.

With the implementation of the new aquatic animal disease reporting in the Asia Pacific region from January 2021 NACA is publishing reported aquatic animal diseases submitted by countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This report covers the third quarter of 2024 and the original and updated reports can be accessed from the QAAD page.

In this issue:

• FAO programme supports national innovation and investment plans for aquaculture transformation.
• 14th Asian Fisheries Forum, 12-15 February 2025 register now!
• Saudi International Marine Exhibition (SIMEC) 3-5 February 2025, Riyadh.
• Workshop on Sustainable Brine Shrimp Artemia Cultivation, 17 February, Tashkent.
• Status, technological innovations, and industry development needs of mud crab (Scylla spp.) aquaculture.
• Global Seaweed: New and Emerging Markets Report 2023.

In this issue:

• Some practices and techniques in cost-effective small and medium-scale aquaculture in West Bengal
• Food and feeding habits of some peninsular carps
• Inland saline aquaculture: Prospects and challenges
• A success story of freshwater prawn farming as an alternative livelihood for self-help and user groups in Mayurbanja District, Odisha, India
• NACA Newsletter

Freshwater prawn farming has emerged as a viable alternative livelihood for rural communities in Mayurbanja District, Odisha, under the Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture (OIIPCRA). This World Bank-assisted initiative has supported tribal self-help groups and user groups in adopting aquaculture as a sustainable income source. Through capacity-building programs, exposure visits, and technical support, beneficiaries have successfully engaged in fish and prawn farming, enhancing food security and financial stability. The study evaluates the impact of freshwater prawn farming in two Minor Irrigation Projects (MIPs) in Karanjia and Shyamakhunta blocks, where genetically improved fish and Macrobrachium rosenbergii (scampi) were introduced. Despite challenges such as erratic weather and fluctuating water conditions, both sites demonstrated promising survival and growth rates, with MIP2 yielding superior production due to favorable water availability and market proximity. Economic analysis confirmed the feasibility and profitability of integrating freshwater prawn farming with modern aquaculture techniques.

Salinity is a growing global challenge, affecting soil productivity, freshwater availability, and aquatic ecosystems. Inland saline aquaculture presents a sustainable opportunity to utilise salt-affected water resources for food production. This article examines the prospects and challenges of aquaculture in inland saline environments, focusing on soil and water characteristics, species tolerance, and mitigation strategies. It highlights the potential of using brackish groundwater for aquaculture, reducing pressure on freshwater supplies while making use of degraded lands. The study also discusses the physiological adaptations of fish to salinity stress, the role of key ions in aquaculture success, and the integration of saline aquaculture with traditional farming systems. Inland saline aquaculture could play a critical role in enhancing food security, optimising water resource use, and mitigating environmental degradation in semi-arid and arid regions.

Carps are a vital component of global freshwater fish production, particularly in India, where both Indian major carps and indigenous species contribute to aquaculture. This study reviews the food and feeding habits of select peninsular carps, highlighting their potential for aquaculture diversification and biodiversity conservation. Indigenous species such as Hypselobarbus pulchellus, Barbodes carnaticus, Labeo fimbriatus, Labeo kontius, and Tor khudree demonstrate adaptability to natural productivity, reducing reliance on artificial feeds. Gut content analyses reveal dietary patterns ranging from herbivory to omnivory, with species consuming vascular plants, algae, molluscs, and insects. Feeding behavior varies across life stages, with juveniles relying on zooplankton and diatoms, while adults shift to macrophytes and benthic organisms. Integrating these species into polyculture systems could enhance aquaculture efficiency and support conservation efforts for threatened endemic fish.

Small and medium-scale aquaculture in West Bengal has evolved to incorporate cost-effective, sustainable practices that reduce input costs while maintaining productivity. This article explores various low-cost aquaculture techniques used by rural fish farmers, emphasising farm-made feed formulations, pond fertilisation methods, and integrated farming systems. Farmers utilise non-conventional feed additives to enhance fish health and growth while reducing reliance on expensive commercial products. Fermented feed supplements and probiotic formulations have been successfully implemented to improve water quality and plankton production. Integrated fish farming, incorporating compost manure, vermicomposting, and polyculture with species like giant freshwater prawn, has increased productivity and economic returns.

With the implementation of the new aquatic animal disease reporting in the Asia Pacific region from January 2021 NACA is publishing reported aquatic animal diseases submitted by countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This report covers the second quarter of 2024 and the original and updated reports can be accessed from the QAAD page.

The 14th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (14AFAF) will be held from 12-15 February 2025 in New Delhi, India. Submission of abstracts has been extended until 5 November, and early bird registration closes on 10 November, so get in quick!

The forum is a scientific meeting organised by the Asian Fisheries Society (AFS) once every three years to understand the global trends and address issues and challenges faced by the fisheries and aquaculture sector. The main purpose of this Forum is to provide an international platform for eminent scientists, young researchers, and other stakeholders across the globe to share their research experiences and innovative ideas. By facilitating the exchange of diverse range of knowledge and expertise, the Forum with the Theme ‘Greening the Blue Growth in Asia-Pacific’ aims to address key issues towards developing sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.