The Global Conference on Aquaculture 2010 reviewed the present status and trends in aquaculture development, addressed emerging issues relevant to aquaculture development, assessed opportunities and challenges for future aquaculture development and built consensus on advancing aquaculture as a global, sustainable and competitive food production sector. This volume provides information on how aquaculture could be mobilized to alleviate global poverty and improve food and nutrition security in the coming decades.

This report, the 56th in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of fifteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword discusses a case definition for acute hepatopancreatic necrosis syndrome ("early mortality syndrome") in cultured shrimp in Asia.

In this issue:

Shrimp farming in Andhra Pradesh, India. Small indigenous freshwater fish species in village community ponds to ensure nutritional security of rural poor. Postlarvae culture and technical status of whiteleg shrimp Penaeus vannamei hatcheries, Vietnam. Jatropha meal as a promising plant protein source for aquaculture feeds. Use of soybean meal in cobia diets. Capture based aquaculture of spiny lobster Panulirus polyphagus in open sea cages. Institutional linkage helping rural women gain employment.

In this issue:

Putting Gender on the Programme of NACA. Proceedings of the Global Conference on Aquaculture 2010 available for download. Peter Edwards to mentor the new Sustainable Farming Systems Programme. International Fisheries Symposium, 6-8 December, Can Tho, Vietnam. Broodstock management training course launched by NACA and UNU-FTP.

The Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health meets annually to discuss regional health issues including emerging disease threats. This report includes a review of regional disease status circa 2011, global and regional disease reporting arrangements, global issues and standards, progress in implementation of the the Regional Technical Guidelines on Health management for the Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals, identification and designation of regional aquatic animal health resources and regional and international cooperation.