In 2006 the COFI Sub-Committee on Aquaculture noted that many non-governmental certification schemes have resulted in higher costs for producers without delivering significant benefits to small-scale producers. An international round of consultations were commissioned to discuss the development of globally accepted certification guidelines for aquaculture production, which could provide more guidance and serve as a basis for harmonisation and mutual recognition. This is the report of the first consultation workshop, held in Bangkok, March 2007.

This report, the 36th in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of fifteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword discusses recent activities in support of aquatic animal health in the region.

In this issue:

Sustainable black tiger shrimp farming in Sri Lanka. An economic analysis of Persian sturgeon stock enhancement. Aquaculture and environmental sustainability in Thailand: Food or financial security? Cage fish culture - successful income generation in manmade reservoir Kulekhani, Nepal. Diversification of rice farming alleviates poverty in a Bangladesh village. Sea-pineapple aquaculture in Japan. Green mussel cultivation in Thailand. Selective breeding for growh and fillet yield in Vietnamese catfish. Producing quality fish seed in rural Asia.

This report describes a training course on grouper hatchery protocols that was held in Indonesia in 2006. A total of 20 participants from 13 countries attended the training course which was hosted by the Brackishwater Aquaculture Development Centre, Situbondo. Participants came from Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

This report, the 35th in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of fifteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword discusses mechanisms for recognition of emerging diseases in the Asia-Pacific 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 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.

The use of alien species is a proven means to increase production and value from aquatic ecosystems. However, alien species are now recognised as one of the most significant threats to aquatic biodiversity. There are a range of international mechanisms that have been established to assist countries in meeting international obligations and responsibilities. Implementation is often difficult due to lack of awareness and problems with enforcement. Regional coordination of policies is needed for effective national management.

This report, the 34th in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of fourteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword discusses efforts towards international harmonisation in aquatic animal health standards.

In this issue:

International shrimp farming principles welcomed by countries. Discussions on the establishment of a "Mahseer R&D Centre". Microsatellite DNA markers for mahseer are now available. First study on genetic variation of the critically endangered Mekong giant catfish. IMNV found in Asia-Pacific. Thailand and US to jointly install tsunami wave sensors. Co-management in aquaculture explored at APFIC Forum. Virus may control Australia's feral carp problem. A milestone in India's sustainable shrimp farming efforts. Fish introduction in India: Status, challenges and potentials. 8th Asian Fisheries Forum. STREAM Update. Website management training to support Thai Post-tsunami Rehabilitation website.

This report, the 33rd in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of seventeen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword discusses emerging diseases in the region.

In this issue:

Resources and biodiversity of seahorses and their need for conservation in India. Captive breeding of pangasid catfish Pangasius pangasius. Establishment of post-tsunami rehabilitation information units in Thailand. Poor farmers culture tilapia intensively in ponds in Central Luzon, Philippines. Simple herbal treatment for treatment of EUS in snakehead. DNA vaccination in health management. The role of immunostimulants. Red tilapia cage culture in central Thailand. Quality improvement of farmed fish in Iranian markets.

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.

This report, the 32nd in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of fifteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword discusses regional cooperation for promotion of aquatic animal health management.

This is the proceedings of the workshop on Building capacity to combat impacts of aquatic invasive alien species and associated trans-boundary pathogens in ASEAN countries, held in Penang, Malaysia, on the 12th-16th July 2004. The workshop built on the recommendations from a 2002 workshop organised by the Global Invasive Species Program and a 2003 workshop of countries sharing the Mekong watershed, in promoting awareness, coordination mechanisms and information exchange systems and identifying management and risk mitigation measures.

This report, the 31st in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of fourteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword discusses recent activities to strengthen aquatic animal health management in ASEAN.

In this issue:

Training workshop on molecular genetics. Outcomes of the 8th Technical Advisory Committee Meeting. Taking the 'grey' out of 'grey literature'. An introduction to the South Iran Aquaculture Research Center. Aquaclubs in India achieve good crops this year, with further challenges ahead. Rebuilding resilience of coastal populations and aquatic resources. Recent activities in STREAM. First international PCR training workshop completed. AusAID funds two aquatic animal health projects. Asia Regional Advisory Group continues to support aquatic animal disease management in the region. Indonesia accedes to the NACA Agreement. Governing Council 17 to set NACA Work Programme 2006-2010. Marine fish culture manuals now available in Thai. Aquaculture Rehabilitation Guide in Aceh, Indonesia. Boat building in the tsunami affected areas of NAD: Fishing vessel quality issues. Australasian Aquaculture 2006, 27 - 30 August, Adelaide. East Asian Seas Congress, 12-16 December 2006, China. Aquafeed Production Workshop, 8 March 2006, Thailand.

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.

This report, the 30th in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of sixteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword discusses capacity building and harmonisation in aquatic animal health within ASEAN.

In this issue:

Small-scale pond culture in Bangladesh. Issues and challenges in community-based aquaculture. Aquaculture as an action programme building confidence and self-worth. Transforming policy recommendations into pro-poor service provision. Grow out of spotted Babylon to marketable size in polyculture with seabass. Influence of economic conditions and global shocks on grouper markets. Status of cobia hatchery technology in Vietnam. Organic shrimp raceway system. Macrobrachium rosenbergii in Vembanad Lake. Management of monogenean parasites.

This is the report of an inception workshop for the Mekong Giant Catfish Working Group. The Mekong giant catfish Pangasianodon gigas is listed as critically endangered in the 2003 IUCN Red List. The purpose of the workshop was to exchange information on the current state of the Mekong giant catfish and the relevant conservation and research activities of key organisations, and to establish a joint planning process aimed at developing an overarching conservation strategy for the Mekong giant catfish.