This information sheet provides an explanation and background information on Specific Pathogen Free organisms. Key points include that SPF animals are designated to be free from specified pathogens, only. The SPF status simply provides an assurance to the buyer that the stock is not infected with the specified pathogens at the time of purchase. The SPF status is lost when animals are removed from biosecure facilities.

This report provides an appraisal of the status of mangrove ecosystems and linkages with associated communities and their livelihoods. The report addresses ecosystem health and function, the livelihoods of poor people, goods and services and gender issues. The major causes of impacts to mangrove forest and related aquatic resources are considered along with community perceptions of trends in natural resource quantity, economy, social relations and conflicts. Relevant policies and laws are briefly reviewed.

This report, the 42nd in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of fifteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword discusses import requirements for live aquatic animals and their products for the European Union.

In this issue:

An increasingly secure future for wastewater-fed aquaculture in Kolkata, India? First culture-based fisheries growth cycle in Lao PDR is overhwelmingly encouraging. Revival of abandoned shrimp farms in Andhra Pradesh. Growth of industries linked with aquaculture in Kolleru Lake area, India. Applications of nutritional biotechnology in aquaculture. Technical and management aspects of catfish hatcheries in Vietnam. Asian seabass farming. Mariculture development opportunities in southeast Sulawesi, and much more.

In this issue:

Regional technical cooperation in reducing dependence on trash fish. Culture, capture conflicts in Indonesian reservoirs: Phase 2. Progress on the IFC/NACA ACEH Shrimp Project. Indian shrimp farmer societies succeed through better management practices. Multidisciplinary situation appraisal of mangrove ecosystems in Thailand. New CIFA Director appointed. FAO Glossary of Aquaculture.

In this report, we summarise the outcome of the first MANGROVE Project stakeholder workshop in Nakhon Si Thammarat in the Gulf of Thailand. The objectives of the workshop, held 6 March 2008, were to review and discuss project problem definition from different stakeholder perspectives, to understand how different stakeholders are affected in different ways, and to understand what kind of solutions are presented and by whom? The workshop was attended by community, local government and NGOs.

This report, the 41st in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of sixteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword discusses emerging crustacean diseases.

In this issue:

Possible improvements to carp culture in Andhra Pradesh. Aquaculture and environmental issues in the region of Nai Lagoon, Vietnam. Selection potential for feed efficiency in farmed salmonids. Freshwater prawn broodstock concern in Bangladhesh hatcheries. Production of Cirrhinus molitorella and Labeo chrysophekadion for culture-based fisheries in Lao PDR: Nursery and grow-out. Mussel farming: Alternate water monitoring practice. Use of poultry by-product meals in pelleted feed for humpback grouper Cromileptes altivelis.

In this issue:

Aquaculture certification guidelines development process continues in Beijing, Washington D.C. Development of BMPs for catfish farming in Vietnam - survey of management practices. NACA extends cooperation with ADB for tsunami rehabilitation in Indonesia. International hands-on training programme on molecular biology techniques. Cage aquaculture carrying capacity tool now available. 6th Regional Grouper Hatchery Production Training Course completed. 2008 Forum on Fisheries Science and Technology, 25-27 September 2008, Shanghai, China. Aquaculture success stories 'write shop'. Bookshelf: New publications for free download.

This workshop was the fifth in a series of consultations to prepare the international guidelines for aquaculture certification. The workshop had a strong emphasis on aquaculture products from China, and explored opportunities and challenges for implementing the certification guidelines in China towards improving overall aquatic production and trade of aquaculture products. The workshop considered that international guidelines for aquaculture certification would provide a useful basis for development of standards for certification of aquaculture products in China.