In this presentation, Fabian Reusch, founder of HydroNeo, shares the story of how HydroNeo began and the lessons learned along the way of building a tech startup in Thailand. Aimed at fellow aquaculture entrepreneurs and startup founders, his talk is an open and honest reflection on the realities of the journey — not a polished, glamorous pitch that only highlights the wins, but a candid look at both successes and setbacks, the difficult decisions, and the ongoing challenges that shape the real path of building a company.

Mariska Bottema (WorldFish) and Rebecca McMillan (IDRC) discuss the concept of nature-based aquaculture, why it matters for innovation and entrepreneurship, and how it can support ecosystems, communities, and profitability. Topics include: Defining nature-based aquaculture and its connection to nature-based solutions; criteria such as climate resilience, ecosystem health, reduced antimicrobial use, and inclusivity; global examples: mangrove–shrimp integration, women-led seaweed farming, integrated multi-trophic systems, and rice–fish farming; supportive technologies including IoT, renewable energy, and life cycle assessment; and opportunities for entrepreneurs: resilient farms, reduced risks, lower costs, premium markets, funding, and partnerships.

A discussion on how creative partnerships build markets for nature-based seafood from farm to fork. Topics include rigorous sustainability and certification, smallholder capacity building, traceability and water-quality sensing, decarbonising supply chains, short supply chains and consumer trust, plus species literacy and whole-fish utilisation in Thai cuisine. Panelists:

• Special Guest Chef Black (Blackitch Artisan Kitchen).
• Panu Boonsong, Thai Union Group.
• Duangchai Paungkaew, Aquaculture Stewardship Council.
• Gun Jinnawat, Vice-President, Boonsawang Farm.

The 3rd High‑Level Meeting on Aquaculture Transformation in Asia and the Pacific, held 1–2 July in Shanghai, brought together governments, industry leaders and development partners to drive innovation, investment and sustainability in the region’s aquaculture sector. Discussions focused on scaling low‑cost fish production, making technology adoption easier for small farmers, improving access to finance, and strengthening regional cooperation. The meeting set clear priorities for accelerating transformation by 2030, with resources and key presentations now available online. Videos of the presentations are available for viewing on YouTube.

This presentation by Eduardo Leaño, Director General of NACA, provides a background and introduction to the 3rd High-Level Meeting on Aquaculture Transformation in the Asia-Pacific Region (HLM-3).

The region accounts for around 90% of global aquaculture production but faces mounting challenges including resource scarcity, environmental pressures, climate change, and shifting global dynamics. Addressing these requires a strategic shift driven by innovation, investment, and stronger partnerships to build more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable aquatic food systems.

HLM-3 builds on the outcomes of previous high-level meetings and the Aquaculture Transformation White Paper, with a focus on national innovation and investment plans, regional collaboration, and implementation efforts to achieve transformation by 2030.