This is the report of a five-day training workshop was to build capacity and awareness of relevant stakeholders in the areas of aquatic epidemiology, risk analysis, surveillance and emergency preparedness. The long term objective was to support implementation of national strategies for better aquatic animal health management with a focus on improved surveillance, reporting, early response, emergency preparedness, risk analysis, certification and quarantine.

This report, the 38th in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of seventeen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword discusses the OIE/NACA Regional Workshop on Aquatic Animal Health.

In this issue:

A different form of dumping: The need for a precautionary approach for yet another new species for shrimp farming in Asia. Sustainable livelihoods of pangus farming in Bangladesh. Business approach to national broodstock centres in Vietnam. Freshwater aquaculture in Myanmar. Traditional carp culture in Central Europe. Egg and larval quality in sand bass Psammoperca weigiensis. Effect of protein and lipid level of growth performance of tiger grouper Epinephelus fuscoguttatus.

In this issue:

Lao culture-based fisheries project gets underway. Expert Workshop on Aquaculture Certification, Brazil. Strategies for Development of Asian Reservoir and Lake Fisheries Management. EUS identified as cause of fish kills in Africa. NACA seeks shrimp farm specialists for assignments in Indonesia. FDA detains five species of farm-raised seafood from China. 7th Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture. Aquafeed Horizons Asia 2008. Scientists join fight against frog diseases. Artificial propagation of snow trout Schizothorax zarudnyi by Iranian experts. NACA keynotes three international meetings. Culture, capture conflicts project review, Indonesia. Sign up to the coldwater aquaculture Yahoo! Tech Group. Website publishing and administration training, Vietnam. Aquatic Animal diseases Significant to Asia-Pacific: Identification Field Guide.

The 5th Regional Grouper Hatchery Training Course was another success with all participants is pleased with the overall training activities and field trips. A total of 17 participants from eight countries attended the training course which was hosted by the Brackishwater Aquaculture Development Centre, Situbondo, Indonesia. Participants were able to involve in the broodstock activities for giant grouper, in additional to the tiger and humpback groupers, and attended field trips to backyard hatcheries and export facilities.