The conference will be held in virtual format. Please download the flyer below or visit the conference website.

Topics include: Improvement of resource efficiency and profitability of fish farming by selective breeding; Optimisation of an Asian seabass genetic improvement program: Genomic selection for growth performance and harvest traits; Pigment genotype-by-diet interaction on growth in Atlantic salmon; Selective breeding - a driver for profitable and sustainable aquaculture productions; Diversity of sex determination in fish: Lesson learned for sex manipulation in aquaculture; Past, present and future stories in genetic improvement of commercially important penaeid shrimp in Thailand: From population genetics to genomic studies; Surrogate production of fish by germ cell transplantation.

The common freshwater snail Bellamya bengalensis, golden apple snail Pila globosa and freshwater pearl mussel Lamellidens marginalis are naturally found in West Bengal. These molluscs are also an important source of protein for poor rural communities, and are also gaining popularity in middle and high income suburban areas for their nutritional and traditional medicinal values. They also represent a significant source of employment and income generation for women from Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes. This article documents the collection, preparation, trade and use of freshwater molluscs in Paschim Medinipur and Purba Medinipur districts of West Bengal.

Green water technology is a technique that promotes phytoplankton to grow profusely, and includes several methods by which desirable microalgae are produced for the purpose of rearing larval fish and crustaceans. Naturally occurring phytoplankton, which serve as feed for fish and crustacean larvae, are grown and proliferate under a controlled system. This article describes the use of greenwater and co-feeding techniques in the rearing of hilsa, Tenualosa ilisha, principally making use of Chlorella and rotifers.

Development of small-scale aquaculture has dominated development discourse because of its potential to fight malnutrition and poverty, to ensure food security and enhance the socio-economic condition of people living at the bottom of the pyramid. Aquaculture has contributed to strengthening livelihoods and food security in southeast Asian countries, contributing to the livelihood of the poor farmers through improved food supply, income and employment.

Video recordings and the report of the webinar are now available. The International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium (IAAC) hosted a webinar on Management of the Artemia Resources of the Great Salt Lake, 5 May 2022, at 14:00 UTC. The purpose of the webinar was to familiarise participants with recent international developments in Artemia research cooperation, and to examine the Great Salt Lake as a case study in successful management of Artemia resources in a multi-stakeholder environment.

Video recordings and the report of the webinar are now available. The webinar, held on 4 May 2022, was necessitated by the fact that Artemia production has been ongoing on the continent for more than four decades, similar to Asia, but without any distinctive levels of success. Diverse levels of Artemia activities in different African countries were presented, to take stock of where the continent is, explore opportunities and address the various challenges impeding the production and utilisation of Artemia for improved livelihoods and overall aquaculture development in Africa.

The Yellow Seas Fisheries Research Institute (YSFRI) will convene a free online Training Course on Mariculture Technologies in the Asia-Pacific Region from 19 to 23 September (please note the change of date). The course is organised by YSFRI, NACA, the Qindao Marine International Cooperation Center and the Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission. The training course will cover: Theory and technology for producing high-quality seed; New mariculture modes and technology; Nutrient regulation and feeding technology; Disease prevention and control technologies; Product processing and utilisation technologies. Applications close 5 September.

Artemia remains a critical feed source for larval fish and crustaceans, underpinning the hatchery production phase for around 10 million tonnes of aquaculture. Yet around 90 percent of current Artemia cysts are wild harvested from salt lakes. There is a need to assure the sustainable supply of Artemia cysts to support hatchery production, from both wild and farmed sources. The International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium has been establihed to explore opportunities in the conservation of Artemia biodiversity, the development of science-based protocols for sustainable harvesting of wild sources, strain selection and selective breeding. NACA will host the consortium.

An online forum will be held on 16 August to enable technical exchange between policymakers, fishery extension officers, researchers and entrepreneurs in development of the freshwater fisheries industry through technology innovation.

The forum will focus on innovations and developments in freshwater fishery biotech, breeding, culture models, digitisation, and industrialisation, featuring presentations and discussions from experts of international organisations, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Engineering, universities and entrepreneurs in virtual exchanges and discussions. Participation is free but registration is required.

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 2021 and the original and updated reports can be accessed from the QAAD page.