These are the proceedings of the FAO/AAHRI Expert Workshop on Improving Biosecurity through Prudent and Responsible Use of Veterinary Medicines in Aquatic Food Production, held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 15 to 18 December 2009. The workshop discussed the current status of antimicrobial usage in aquaculture and the impacts of their irresponsible use on human health, the aquatic environment and trade. The outcomes are relevant to the development of guiding principles on the responsible use of antimicrobials in aquaculture.

This manual provides practical guidelines for those engaged in the nursery culture of groupers in Indonesia as well as elsewhere in the tropics. It provides information on husbandry of groupers in the nursery phase, to reduce losses due to disease and cannibalism, and thus to increase the profitability of grouper nursing. The guidelines are derived from outcomes of ACIAR-funded research as well as other published information on grouper nursery management.

This manual provides guidelines for the production of tiger grouper fingerlings. It outlines best-practice methods for broodstock maintenance, spawning, egg incubation and rearing of larvae through to 2–3 cm, fully metamorphosed juveniles. The guidelines have been developed from the outcomes of ACIAR-funded research, as well as from the experience of Indonesian, Philippine and Australian scientists and commercial hatchery operators, and published information. It provides an aid for improving the availability of grouper seed stock.

This report, the 60th in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of fifteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword discusses response to aquatic animal disease emergencies.

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.

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.

This report, the 59th in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of sixteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword contains an update on acute hepatopancreatic necrosis syndrome (AHPNS) of cultured shrimp.

This is the report of the first workshop of the Regional proficiency testing program for aquatic animal disease diagnostic laboratories in Asia-Pacific, held from 25-26 July 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. The objectives of the programme were to strengthen Asia’s regional capability to diagnose important aquatic animal diseases that impact on trade, train participating laboratory personnel in diagnostic standards and proficiency testing procedures, and to provide technical assistance to improve laboratory performance. 

This brief summarises the results from the interdisciplinary study conducted within the Aquaclimate project in Iloilo province in the Philippines looking at the impacts of climate change on small scale milkfish farming. The brief provides guidelines for adaptation and policy development to address the climate change impacts on small scale milkfish farming in the Philippines and how adaptation measures should be implemented in the region.

This case study examines the impacts of climate change on milkfish farmers in Iloilo. Farmer perceptions of climate change, attitudes and adaptation strategies were mapped via focus group discussion, stakeholder workshops and questionnaires. Measures that could be achieved to reduce vulnerability to climate change include sustainable aquaculture practices; diversification of farmers’ income sources; diversification of culture species; utilising natural resources to increase productivity; and building farmer capacities through access to information and knowledge.