In this issue:

• Pathway to aquaculture biosecurity: Mitigating risks, managing progressively and engaging the value chain
• Important considerations for feed and feeding management during Indian catfish culture
• A transitional journey from fisheries to aquaculture in Moyna
• Colour widow tetra: A new and highly preferred aquarium fish in West Bengal
• Expanding the horizon of aquaculture through women's empowerment
• NACA Newsletter

Known as ‘glow widow tetra’, ‘glow skirt tetra’, ‘colour widow tetra’ in the ornamental fish industry, a genetically modified variety of the black widow tetra Gymnocorymbus ternetzi is the most favoured by aquarium fish hobbyists in West Bengal. Stunning and sparkling red, blue, yellow, green, pink, orange, and purple bodied colour variations of this tetra have been developed through gene transfer or transgenic technology. The fish glow when kept under blue LED lights, hence the name ‘glowfish’. Maintenance of these brightly coloured and reasonably priced fish in small and medium-sized aquariums at home, the office, hotels, and other settings has become popular in West Bengal, India.

In this issue:

Aquaculture and fisheries perspectives in Arunachal Pradesh; Present status of medium saline ‘bheri’ fishery and integrated mangrove-aquaculture in West Bengal, India: A short study: Part 2; Transforming waste to wealth: An onsite demonstration of transforming fish waste into fish fertiliser to tribal communities of Jharkhand; Innovative fish sale improved livelihoods at Jurala dam in Telangana, India; Pengba, Osteobrama belangeri – a candidate species for diversification in aquaculture; First report on successful captive breeding of peacock eel, Macrognathus aral; NACA Newsletter.

This report summaries the proceedings of the 21st meeting of the Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health, held 17-18 November 2022. The role of the group is to review trends in disease and emerging threats in the region, identify developments in global disease issues and standards, to evaluate the Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease Reporting Program and to provide guidance on regional strategies to improve aquatic animal health management.

On 28-29 November FAO and NACA collaborated on a virtual workshop to develop a regional strategy for aquatic organism health, using a progressive management pathway for improving aquaculture biosecurity. The workshop was held under the auspices of the project “Responsible use of fisheries and aquaculture resources for sustainable development component 3: Biosecurity and health management”. The workshop involved 31 experts from 16 countries, including national focal points, FAO and NACA. The objectives of the workshop were to: Present and analyse country responses to a self-assessment survey on biosecurity and health management capacity and performance; to provide guuidance to country participants on conducting a SWOT analysis; and to prepare a detailed plan for Phase II of the initiative.