In India's north-eastern states and West Bengal, women's participation in aquaculture is around 55%. They are involved in pond fertilisation, nursery fish seed rearing, fish feeding, and harvesting. In Purba Medinipur, women practice family-based freshwater aquaculture in backyard ponds. This helps improve the health of rural households and supports their lives and livelihoods. Experts from ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Odisha, believe that improving rural women's access to credit and developing women-friendly aquaculture technologies can help. Involving women trainers and extension workers, and organising women aquaculture clubs, can also enhance technology transfer. This article describes the role of women in aquaculture in Haldia, Purba Medinipur, and the practices and business development of some leading women fish farmers.

Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is sponsoring the project "Knowledge Brokering for Nature-Based Solutions in Aquaculture Transformation in Asia-Pacific: Support to the Aquaculture Innovation and Investment Hub." The project is part of a wider IDRC AQUADAPT initiative, a four-year partnership running from 2023-2027. AQUADAPT addresses the intertwined challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity through applied research on nature-based solutions in aquaculture in Southeast Asia and the Pacific region. AQUADAPT emphasises Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), ensuring that nature-based solutions are inclusive of all genders and marginalised groups. The project's inception workshop was held in Bangkok from July 4-5, bringing together project teams from Thailand, The Philippines, and Fiji to discuss approaches and methodologies. 

In this issue:

• NACA and Thailand's Department of Fisheries Strengthen Collaboration.
• Full-degree scholarships and research internship grants from Prince of Songkla University, Thailand.
• Manual on Artemia production and use.
• The Grass Carp Aquaculture Manual.
• Pacific oyster farming: A practical manual.
• The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024: Blue Transformation in action.
• Safeguarding salt lake brine shrimp (Artemia) resources for aquaculture: A training project.
• Reported Aquatic Animal Diseases in the Asia-Pacific Region during the Fourth Quarter of 2023.
• First International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium Conference, 9 September (hybrid event).

The first conference of the International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium (IAAC) will be organised on 9 September as part of the same premises as the Larvi '24 Conference, in Ostend, Belgium. This is a hybrid event, with participation possible both in person and online via Zoom. In the morning session (open to all larvi participants), the following IAAC members will give presentations: Yeong Yik Sung (Malaysia), Patrick Sorgeloos (Belgium), Simon Wilkinson (Thailand), Sui Liying (China), Stephanie De Vos (Belgium), Brad Marden (USA), Phil Brown (USA), Yathish Ramena (USA) and David Johanson (Belgium). A detailed programme will be available shortly. Participation in the IAAC conference is free, but people attending in person are requested to indicate your interest to attend it on the Larvi registration form. The Zoom link for virtual participants will be announced shortly.

NACA's newly appointed Director General, Dr. Eduardo Leano, along with staff, paid a courtesy call to Mr. Bancha Sukkaew, the Director General of the Department of Fisheries (DOF), Thailand, and directors of DOF's divisions. Discussions centered on ongoing projects between NACA and DOF and explored opportunities for collaboration both in Thailand and the wider region. Mr. Sukkaew emphasized the need to improve food security in the Asia-Pacific region and the importance of cooperation in information sharing and R&D to enhance productivity and reduce costs. Thailand is currently participating in a NACA project on Knowledge brokering for nature-based solutions in aquaculture transformation in Asia-Pacific. The Thai team is identifying innovations and nature-based solutions in the aquaculture industry, as a contribution to the regional Aquaculture Innovation and Investment Hub, presently in development.