NACA participated in two major FAO-led aquaculture events held back-to-back in Fuzhou, China, from 17–20 March 2026, bringing together global leaders to advance sustainable aquaculture. The FAO Roundtable on the Global Sustainable Aquaculture Advancement Partnership (GSAAP) focused on strengthening collaboration and aligning technical support with country needs, while the First FAO–China Fisheries Association Joint International Conference explored practical solutions to key sector challenges, including feed sustainability, seed systems, aquatic animal health and innovation.
Together, the events highlighted the urgency of coordinated action as aquaculture continues to expand under increasing environmental and resource pressures. Discussions emphasized moving beyond pilot initiatives towards scalable, partnership-driven solutions. NACA’s participation reinforced its role in regional cooperation and knowledge exchange, contributing to global efforts to build more resilient, inclusive and sustainable aquaculture systems.
25 February 2026Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | 1254 views
The Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture (GSA) were adopted by the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in July 2024. They provide a shared vision and a set of principles, practices and recommendations that countries can implement to transform their aquaculture sectors in line with the 2030 Agenda, the FAO Blue Transformation Roadmap 2022–2030 and the 2021 COFI Declaration. The GSA serve as a roadmap to foster good governance, science-based decision making, effective management and inclusive, environmentally responsible value chains based on respect for human rights. Their ultimate goal is to ensure that sustainable aquaculture delivers food security and nutrition, equitable livelihoods, restored ecosystems and climate resilience.
NACA's Director General, Dr. Eduardo Leano, recently met with Dr. Thitiporn Laoprasert, the newly appointed Director General of Thailand's Department of Fisheries (DOF), to discuss opportunities for closer regional cooperation. Dr. Laoprasert, a familiar face in NACA activities, takes the helm of an agency that has hosted the NACA Secretariat for over 35 years, a partnership that has made Thailand central to aquaculture development across the Asia-Pacific.
The meeting identified four priority areas for collaboration: building climate resilience, promoting gender equity, advancing nature-based solutions, and expanding the Aquaculture Innovation and Investment Hub to connect new technologies with local farmers. Dr. Laoprasert also emphasised the need for joint research and development to reduce production costs and strengthen regional food security. Thailand's DOF is already contributing by documenting local innovations for the AquaHub, a new regional innovation and investment platform.
Medicinal leeches represent a niche but valuable aquaculture opportunity in China. A commercial farm in Anhui Province produces 36 tonnes annually of Whitmania pigra, a predatory leech species used in traditional medicine and pharmaceutical products. The dried leeches command prices around US$100 per kilogram. Unlike blood-feeding leeches, this species feeds naturally on aquatic snails throughout its life cycle, simplifying feed management. The farm rears leeches in large above-ground tanks holding up to 10,000 individuals each, with adults reaching 50 g in weight. The operation produces its own seed, with each adult producing around 90 eggs across three cocoons. This brief farm report provides insight into the production system for this unusual but commercially viable aquaculture species.
