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 2013, 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 workshop was held in Bali, Indonesia from 6 to 8 November 2013. The programme included reports on current aquatic animal disease situations in selected countries and presentations on the national aquatic animal health programmes of China, Japan and Korea. In addition, case studies on the molluscan diseases, shrimp diseases and finfish diseases were presented to facilitate the subsequent discussion on emergency response of those diseases in the national and regional level.

The symposium provided a venue for information sharing on extension of small-scale aquaculture targeted to those individuals and relevant organisations involved in various aquaculture development projects. The symposium also assessed and presented the effectiveness of “farmer-to-farmer extension” approaches in the implementation of relevant aquaculture development projects in the region. The symposium was organised by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), NACA and the Thai Department of Fisheries. 

Shrimp aquaculture in tropical regions is facing a disease-induced catastrophe of lost production. There is reason to believe that current (poor) broodstock management practices may induce genetic erosion that increases susceptibility to disease and vulnerability to epizootics. The basic tenet for this consultation is that an important aggravating factor in the disease crisis is an agro-economic system that locks shrimp breeders, hatcheries and farmers into behaviour that induces high levels of inbreeding.

Shrimp aquaculture in tropical regions is facing a disease-induced catastrophe of lost production. There is reason to believe that current broodstock management practices may induce genetic erosion that increases susceptibility to disease and vulnerability to epizootics. The basic tenet for this Expert Consultation is that an important aggravating factor in the disease crisis is an agro-economic system that locks shrimp breeders, hatcheries and farmers into behaviour that induces high levels of inbreeding.

This report, the 63rd in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of fifteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword provides an update on acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease of cultured shrimp, including a description of an improved PCR method for detection of AHPND bacteria.

In this issue:

International Symposium on Small-scale Freshwater Aquaculture Extension, 2-5 December, Bangkok. 12th Meeting of the Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health. National Workshop on EMS/AHPND of Cultured Shrimp held in India. Report on early mortality syndrome / acute hepatopancreatic necrosis syndrome of shrimp. Sustaining Ethical Aquaculture Trade Newsletter. India and the AFSPAN Project. Report on AFSPAN Chilean survey. Feeding and feed management of Indian major carps in Andhra Pradesh.

In 2001, the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center and Department of Fisheries in Thailand conducted acollaborative pilot project on coastal fishery resources management with the cooperation of local fishing communities and other stakeholders, community groups and local administrative authorities in Chumphon Province. The project established a practical framework for locally-based coastal resource management by encouraging fishermen’s participation supported by the creation of alternative job opportunities in coastal fishing communities. 

Presentation on the experience of the Asian Institute of Technology in small-scale aquaculture development.

This report, the 62nd in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of sixteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword discusses the outcomes of the 12th meeting of the Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health.

In this issue:

Special session on regional cooperation for improved biosecurity. Pond aquaculture taking off in Nepal. Introduction of culture-based fishery practices in small water bodies in Cambodia: Issues and strategies. A case study on polychaete fishery by the Irular tribal fishing community on the Tamil Nadu coast. Use of pangasius pond sediment for rooftop bag gardening: Potential for rural-urban integrated agriculture-horticulture. Culture-based fisheries exchanges between Lao PDR and Cambodia.

This report is the proceedings of a workshop held under the FAO technical cooperation project Emergency assistance to control the spread of an unknown disease affecting shrimps held in Hanoi, Viet Nam from 25 to 27 June 2013. The workshop reviewed recent investigations into the cause of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis syndrome, believed to related to a strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and drew a number of recommendations on specific and generic actions and measures for reducing the risk of AHPND.

Since 2005, students from the Koh Yao Noi school, working together with the Chiba Environmental Council (Japan), Koh Yao Noi Eco-Tourism Club and with coordination from NACA have endeavoured to restore the environmental damage from the tsunami, and to improve the livelihoods of local people through a variety of initiatives. One of the main activities has been the annual replanting of seedlings of locally occurring mangroves and tropical forest trees to regenerate the damaged areas.

NACA was pleased to coordinate an aquaculture study tour to Bangladesh, Vietnam and Thailand from 19-26 April for a delegation of twelve fisheries development officials from Assam, India. The delegation included Mr Sri Hemanta Narzary, Commissioner and Secretary for Fisheries; Mr Sri Kailash Chang Damria, State Project Director for the ARIAS Society, Mr Sri Siddhartha Purkayastha, Deputy Directory of Fisheries, and district fisheries development and extension officers.

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.

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).

This document presents a tool in the form of an audit table that can be used to broadly screen and identify gaps in the management systems of government agencies responsible for regulating aquaculture. These gaps, once identified, can be a first step toward building regulatory frameworks that can better deliver on jurisdictional ecologically sustainable development and ecosystems approach to aquaculture objectives. The end product of an assessment is a report for consideration by decision makers.

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.