In 2006 the COFI Sub-Committee on Aquaculture noted that many non-governmental certification schemes have resulted in higher costs for producers without delivering significant benefits to small-scale producers. An international round of consultations were commissioned to discuss the development of globally accepted certification guidelines for aquaculture production, which could provide more guidance and serve as a basis for harmonisation and mutual recognition. This is the report of the first consultation workshop, held in Bangkok, March 2007.

The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA) jointly hosted a special session on Better Management Practices (BMPs) at the 3rd INDAQUA 2007, 11-13 January 2007, Chennai, India. The presentations made in the session include i) International principles for responsible shrimp farming; ii) MPEDA-NACA Village demonstration programme, India; Aquaculture rehabilitation and implementation of BMPs in tsunami affected Aceh, Indonesia; and Markets, certification and traceability and small-scale farmers.

In this issue:

Expert Workshop on Guidelines for Aquaculture Certification. Responsible movement of live food finfish within ASEAN: Cebu Workshop finalises the standard operating procedures. Information and capacity requirements for maintaining aquatic animal biosecurity identified. China-ASEAN efforts to minimise risk of spread of aquatic pathogens. National Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture inaugurated. NACA Better Management Practices program expands in Indonesia. Manual on Application of Molecular Tools in Aquaculture and Inland Fisheries Management. Research Needs to Sustain Asia-Pacific Aquaculture to 2025 and Beyond. Endemic freshwater finfish of Asia: Distribution and conservation status.

In this issue:

Iranian officers train in advanced marine shrimp farming and meet Iraqi delegation at NACA. Green award recognises NACA work on sustainable shrimp farming. International Principles for Responsible Shrimp Farming now available in Spanish. Building capacity on aquatic animal epidemiology in I.R. Iran. NACA Fisheries Team meets with new Governor of Aceh. Aquaculture Certification: Programme to implement the COFI Sub-Committee on Aquaculture recommendation. Recent Developments in the Aquaculture Feed Industry. Global Advances in the Ecology and Management of Golden Apple Snails. NACA mission to Myanmar. Workshop on Insurance in Aquaculture to be held in Bali, May 2007. Catfish 2007 Vietnam. Tilapia 2007 Kuala Lumpur.

L'élevage de la crevette est l’un des secteurs d'aquaculture le plus en essor dans beaucoup de régions du monde, il est également l’un des plus controversés. L'expansion rapide de ce secteur a généré, certes, des sources de revenus pour plusieurs pays, mais elle a été accompagnée par une préoccupation croissante sur les impacts environnemental et social. Les Principes Internationaux pour l'Elevage Responsable de la Crevette fournissent la base sur laquelle les parties prenantes peuvent collaborer pour un développement plus durable de l'élevage de crevette.