The peacock eel Macrognathus aral is a popular ornamental and food fish species found in the Eastern Ghat region of India and Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar. The species is classed as Low Risk near threatened in the CAMP report. Peacock eel inhabits shallow waters of plains, wetlands, canals, paddy fields, beels and slow-moving rivers with vegetation. Captive breeding is the only way to fulfil demand and protect wild stocks. This article documents the first successful reported captive breeding of M. aral, embryonic development and larval rearing.

Pengba (Osteobrama belangeri) is a near-threatened minor carp endemic to eastern Manipur in India, Yunnan and Myanmar. A migratory species, wild populations of pengba have declined due to the construction of dams and barranges, and possibly also due to the introduction of alien species. Pengba is highly preferred by consumers and attracts a high market price. This article describes the feeding habits and reproductive biology of pengba, and aquaculture techniques for seed production and grow out in monoculture or polyculture. 

About 200 families that were displaced by construction of the Jurala reservoir have found new employment in fishing and value-added industry. Local people who up fishing add value to their catch by keeping it for live sale in locally-manufactured cages. Local people also use the live fish to prepare a variety of fresh fish dishes, servicing the tourist trade attracted to the reservoir. Over 400 people are now directly or indirectly self-employed through these practices. This article describes the new practices and the improved income that is being generated by fishers and local entrepreneurs.

Management of waste products produced by fish processing can be an environmental and public health issue. But fish waste can be converted into agricultural fertilisers using simple backyard technology. This article describes techniques for producing fertilisers from fish waste, and a successful demonstration of the technology by the College of Fisheries, Gumla, to tribal communities in the state of Jharkand, India.

Arunachal Pradesh is a hill state with a population of 1.38 million in far north-eastern India. With climate ranging from tropical to alpine across a steep altitudinal gradient, the state has a high fish biodiversity and a wide range of aquaculture systems and fishing practices. Both indigenous and exotic species are farmed and fished.

This article describes the species, aquaculture systems and capture fisheries practiced in Arunachal Pradesh as well as their future prospects for further development.

FAO, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), NACA and partners have developed the “Progressive Management Pathway for Aquaculture Biosecurity” (PMP/AB), as an extension of the progressive control pathways concept used for controlling major livestock and zoonotic diseases. A Technical Working Group for PMP/AB has been established at the recommendation of the FAO Sub-Committee on Aquaculture.

Expressions of interest are requested from qualified professionals wishing to join the Technical Working Group. Expressions should be submitted by 20 June. Please see the attached announcement for further details.

This report summaries the proceedings of the 21st meeting of the Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health, held 17-18 November 2022. The role of the group is to review trends in disease and emerging threats in the region, identify developments in global disease issues and standards, to evaluate the Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease Reporting Program and to provide guidance on regional strategies to improve aquatic animal health management.

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 2022 and the original and updated reports can be accessed from the QAAD page. 

The 2023 Shrimp Summit will convene the global seafood value chain to address the critical challlenges of Asia’s shrimp-farming sector, from stagnant production to growers’ livelihoods, with a cross-topic focus on sustainability and climate change. The Summit is presented by The Center for Responsible Seafood (TCRS) and co-hosted by the Global Seafood Alliance. The format of the 2023 Shrimp Summit will allow the industry to develop a common understanding of issues, address key challenges through discussion and work toward consensus and actionable solutions. This in-person and virtual event will feature discussions, relevant content and informative webinars before, during and after the event in the TCRS Online Community. Access to the online community is included with event registration.