A free webinar "Farming resilience: Unlocking the Artemia opportunity" will be held on 30 October from 8:00-11:00 EST (13:00-16:00 UTC). This webinar will present the results of an in-depth analysis of Artemia production, conservation and investment opportunities by the World Bank Group, with expert input from members of the International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium.

Artemia (brine shrimp) is a critical live feed in aquaculture, particularly in hatcheries for shrimp, fish, and ornamental species. Its production and sustainable management are increasingly important as aquaculture expands globally. Global Artemia markets face increasing demand, while new innovations in farming, processing, and conservation offer opportunities for inclusive investment, resilience, and biodiversity protection.

This event will bring together global experts, policymakers, private sector representatives, and development partners to discuss the state of Artemia production and conservation, market opportunities, regulatory frameworks, and pathways for sustainable and viable investment.

In this issue:

• Transforming Aquaculture in Asia and the Pacific: 3rd High-Level Meeting in Shanghai.
• Watch the HLM-3 presentations on YouTube!
• Thailand to chart aquaculture transformation plan at Bangkok workshop.
• Third Asia-Pacific Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program for Aquatic Animal Diseases launched.

The third Asia-Pacific Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program for Aquatic Animal Diseases has been launched, with a regional workshop in Bangkok bringing together 50 people from 13 countries and territories across the region. The program, supported by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, builds on more than a decade of collaboration to strengthen diagnostic capacity, safeguard aquaculture livelihoods, and support safe trade and food security.

Circular nutrition in aquaculture focuses on reducing waste and closing nutrient loops by transforming fish byproducts into sustainable aquafeed. Simon Das from the Tropical Aquafeed Innovations Lab at James Cook University presents how this model can cut reliance on wild-caught forage fish while supporting cost-effective, nutritionally balanced diets. The lab’s work includes developing weaning protocols for pellet-ready fingerlings, training farmers in advanced feeding practices and economics, and promoting gender and youth inclusion. Circular nutrition highlights how rethinking resource use can make aquaculture both more efficient and more sustainable.

TOMGOXY is an AI- and IoT-powered shrimp farming system developed by RYNAN Aquaculture in Vietnam. It transforms traditional ponds into super-intensive, high-efficiency systems that deliver higher yields with reduced water and energy use. The platform integrates smart sensors, cloud analytics, and advanced aeration to maintain optimal water quality, cut antibiotic reliance, and advance sustainable shrimp aquaculture. By combining digital technology with practical training and on-farm deployment, TOMGOXY helps farmers increase productivity, lower costs, and build long-term resilience in the shrimp industry. This pitch was presented by Dang Pham of RYNAN Aquaculture.

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.

With the implementation of the new aquatic animal disease reporting in the Asia Pacific region from January 2021, and in lieu of the published QAAD Reports (last issue published was 4^th quarter of 2020), NACA is publishing reported aquatic animal diseases submitted by countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This report covers the third quarter of 2023 and the original and updated reports can be accessed from the QAAD page. 

In 2023, FAO and NACA initiated a consultation process on aquaculture effluent management in Asia and the Pacific in collaboration with NACA member governments. Experts across the region gathered information to assess the state of governance, advancements in technology and innovation in aquaculture effluent management. The consultative process culminated in an expert workshop, convened from 14 to 15 November, funded by FAO, to share views and national experiences on aquaculture effluent management.

Risk analysis is an essential component of a national aquatic organism health strategy. Now widely applied in many fields, risk analysis provides a science-based framework for evaluating hazards, determining the likelihood and extent of potential harms, mitigating risks and guiding policy decisions. Combining risk and value chain analysis provides a risk-based and people-centred approach to managing disease risks and planning control measures for aquaculture systems. FAO organised a training course on Risk Analysis in the Value Chain from 3-5 September in Bangkok, Thailand, in partnership with NACA, INFOFISH, Thailand Department of Fisheries and the ASEAN Network of Aquatic Animal Health Centres. Financial support was provided by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and Thailand Department of Fisheries.

In this issue:

Artemia side event at the FAO Sub-Committee on Aquaculture, Mexico; Great Salt Lake Brine Shrimp Fishery Meets MSC’s Fishery Standard; Reported Aquatic Animal Diseases in the Asia-Pacific Region during the Fourth Quarter of 2022; Report of the 21st Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health; Thai Fish Project; NACA participates in Coordinating Working Parties on Fisheries Statistics; NACA signs MOU with Cagayan Valley R&D Consortium; Shrimp Summit, 24-26 July, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

With the implementation of the new aquatic animal disease reporting in the Asia Pacific region from January 2021, and in lieu of the published QAAD Reports (last issue published was 4^th quarter of 2020), NACA is publishing reported aquatic animal diseases submitted by countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This report covers the fourth quarter of 2022 and the original and updated reports can be accessed from the QAAD page. 

The 2023 Shrimp Summit will convene the global seafood value chain to address the critical challlenges of Asia’s shrimp-farming sector, from stagnant production to growers’ livelihoods, with a cross-topic focus on sustainability and climate change. The Summit is presented by The Center for Responsible Seafood (TCRS) and co-hosted by the Global Seafood Alliance. The format of the 2023 Shrimp Summit will allow the industry to develop a common understanding of issues, address key challenges through discussion and work toward consensus and actionable solutions. This in-person and virtual event will feature discussions, relevant content and informative webinars before, during and after the event in the TCRS Online Community. Access to the online community is included with event registration.

With the implementation of the new aquatic animal disease reporting in the Asia Pacific region from January 2021, and in lieu of the published QAAD Reports (last issue published was 4th quarter of 2020), NACA is publishing reported aquatic animal diseases submitted by countries in the Asia-Pacific region.  This report covers the third quarter of 2022 and the original and updated reports can be accessed at the QAAD page. 

Ocean University of China and partners will convene the forum from 20 to 22 November 2022. The forum will cover the following: Topic 1: International talent cultivation and training;Topic 2: Science and technology innovation; Topic 3: Industrial synergy. The forum will host discussions about the implementation of the “Blue Transformation” strategy, further expansion of the space for fisheries and aquaculture, and ways of improving the production capacity of aquatic products, with the purpose of facilitating the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Participation is free but registration is required. Registration closes on 22 October.

This report summaries the proceedings of the 20th meeting of the Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health, held 4-5 November 2021. The meeting discussed: Progress on NACA’s Asia Regional Aquatic Animal Health Program; updates from the OIE Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission; aquaculture biosecurity; Progressive Management Pathway for Improving Aquaculture Biosecurity activities relevant to Asia; a systematic approach for quantifying biosecurity measures in aquaculture; aquatic animal health strategy; updates on the OIE Regional Collaboration Framework on Aquatic Animal Health; and updates on the QAAD Reporting and Disease List.

A free virtual seminar series will be held from 13-17 December, hosted by the Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences, in partnership with NACA and the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. The seminar will be held via Zoom. It will give participants a background in aquatic resource conservation practices, recommend options for sustainable aquaculture farming systems with potential for intensification with intervention strategies, and build a communication and experience exchange platform for information dissemination and future collaboration. Participation is free. Registration closes 10 December.

Videos from our recent webinar Status of the use of Artemia cysts in fish and crustacean hatcheries around the world are now available on NACA's Youtube channel. Please consider subscribing for more technical aquaculture content!

Video recordings of technical presentations from the webinar on Culture-based fisheries for rural development (31 May 2021) are now available on Youtube. Presentations cover technical constraints, the socio-economic and impact on communities, micro-nutrient security, monitoring and evaluation, improving water quality through stocking selected species, biodiversity considerations, and success stories.

Please visit NACA's Youtube channel to access the videos. Our Youtube channel is brand new, please consider subscribing for more technical aquaculture videos!

The 88th edition of the Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease Report contains information from thirteen governments. The foreword provides an announcement on the new format for the Aquatic Animal Disease Report from January 2021 onwards.