These are the proceedings of a workshop hosted by APEC and NACA under the project 'Collaborative APEC-NACA Grouper Aquaculture Network' (APEC Project FWG 01/99). The objectives of the workshop included the establishment of a regional research network to facilitate development of a sustainable grouper aquaculture industry; reduction of reliance on wild fingerlings for coastal grouper aquaculture, facilitate development of new aquaculture industries.

These are the proceedings of a workshop focussed on grouper culture, but also explored management strategies required to support the sustainable development of seafarming in the Asian region. The emphasis was on technology transfer and management strategies for the benefit of farmers and coastal communities. The workshop included special sessions on diversification of seafarming systems and culture species, the role of seafarming in the livelihoods of coastal communities.

The Kathmandu symposium on coldwater fishes made recommendations covering three major themes: (1) distribution and conservation of coldwater fishes; (2) role of coldwater fishes in rural development and poverty alleviation; and (3) coldwater fisheries and aquaculture development. This report presents the  the recommendations of the three working groups. The symposium recommended regional cooperation among countries of the Trans-Himalayan region be strengthened for effective sharing and exchange of skills, experiences and technical cooperation.

This volume is the proceedings of the Symposium on Cold Water Fishes of the Trans-Himalayan Region, held in July 2001 in Kathmandu, Nepal. In 32 presentations it reviewed information, experiences, ideas and findings related to fish and fisheries in the region, including fish species distribution, fishing intensity, socio-economic conditions and livelihoods of fisher communities, as well as to the impact of environment degradation, conservation measures and aquaculture technologies for indigenous and exotic cold water fish.

In this issue:

Chemical residues. Live reef fish trade in Hong Kong. Barramundi farming in Australia. Freshwater pearl and prawn production in China. Status of common carp varieties under culture in China. Induced spawning of Pangasius sutchi. Cambodian farmers innovate cost-effective variations on Chinese hatcheries. Genes and fish. Improving rural livelihoods in Cambodia, Vietnam, Nepal and the Philippines through the STREAM Initiative. Marine finfish news, book reviews and more.