This policy brief summarises the results from the interdisciplinary study in Ca Mau and Bac Lieu provinces of the lower Mekong Delta looking at the impacts of climate change on small scale improved polyculture farming. The brief provides guidelines for policy development to address the climate change impacts on small scale improved polyculture farming systems in Vietnam and how adaptation measures should be implemented in the region. The guidelines are based on recommendations from stakeholders including farmers.

This report, the 58th in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of fifteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword contains a disease advisory notice on acute hepatopancreatic necrosis syndrome (AHPNS) of cultured shrimp.

In this issue:

American Soybean Association field trials in China. AusAID funded project on Institutional Support for Development of Mariculture in South East Sulawesi. Income enhancement of farmers through intensive fish culture in polythene lined farm ponds. Consultation on Sustainable Intensification of Aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific: Towards a new paradigm. Taxonomic status of mahseer fishes in north-eastern India: A report on the recent DNA barcoding studies. Biology and aquaculture of the rohu, Labeo rohita.

In this issue:

Outcomes of emergency consultation on shrimp early mortality syndrome / AHPNS. Workshop on Aquaculture Planning and Management Tools. Workshop on Proficiency Testing Programme for Aquatic Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratories in Asia-Pacific. AFSPAN Project gets underway.

In the absence of identified biotic or abiotic cause(s) of the syndrome, this disease card provides information on signs that can be used for presumptive (pond level) and confirmative (animal level) diagnosis of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis syndrome of shrimp. The syndrome involves mass mortalities of up to 100% during the first 20-30 days after stocking. Affected shrimp consistently show an abnormal hepatopancreas, which may be shrunken, swollen or discoloured; loose shells, corkscrew swimming, pale colouration and slow growth.