This document presents a tool in the form of an audit table that can be used to broadly screen and identify gaps in the management systems of government agencies responsible for regulating aquaculture. These gaps, once identified, can be a first step toward building regulatory frameworks that can better deliver on jurisdictional ecologically sustainable development and ecosystems approach to aquaculture objectives. The end product of an assessment is a report for consideration by decision makers.

This report, the 60th in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of fifteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword discusses response to aquatic animal disease emergencies.

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 2012, 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.

This report, the 59th in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of sixteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword contains an update on acute hepatopancreatic necrosis syndrome (AHPNS) of cultured shrimp.

This is the report of the first workshop of the Regional proficiency testing program for aquatic animal disease diagnostic laboratories in Asia-Pacific, held from 25-26 July 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. The objectives of the programme were to strengthen Asia’s regional capability to diagnose important aquatic animal diseases that impact on trade, train participating laboratory personnel in diagnostic standards and proficiency testing procedures, and to provide technical assistance to improve laboratory performance.