In this issue:
Thailand's aquaculture industry is one of the country's great success stories, but climate pressure, disease risk, tougher export markets, and cheaper competitors are spurring the sector to innovate and adapt. On 13 July 2026, stakeholders from government, research, industry, and the export and standards communities gathered at the Department of Fisheries in Bangkok to review and validate a draft National Innovation and Investment Plan for aquaculture, developed under a regional FAO Technical Cooperation Programme implemented by NACA that is also assisting India and the Philippines.
At its heart is a bold vision: for Thailand to become a global leader in innovative aquaculture by 2030, competing on quality, innovation, and value rather than volume, anchored by three connected ideas spanning innovation, premium branding, and the next generation of aquaculture talent.
]]>FAO's State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2026 provides data and insights on the current challenges and opportunities shaping the global seafood sector. This edition focuses on the FAO’s "Blue Transformation" strategy, outlining how field projects and policy initiatives contribute to global food security, poverty alleviation, and economic growth.
The report has three main sections:
The publication serves as a factual resource for policymakers, researchers, industry actors, and consumers tracking the development of sustainable aquatic food systems. You can explore the data that SOFIA 2026 is based on in our Aquaculture Statistics Dashboard.
]]>Good fisheries and aquaculture policy depends on good data. The new Global Aquaculture Statistics Dashboard, based on authoritative FAO data, makes exploring it easier than ever, bringing decades of global fisheries and aquaculture statistics together in one place, ready to use in your browser. It's free, and you can download the datasets and take them with you if you want.
Six sections answer different questions: global production trends, species rankings, country profiles, trade flows, production environments, and per-capita consumption alongside food insecurity. Charts load instantly and update as filters change. A single click filters to any NACA member state; autocomplete search covers species by common or scientific name; and every chart offers a one-click CSV export of the full dataset.
]]>NACA recently participated in the FAO Expert Workshop, "Turning guidance into action: regional insights for implementing the Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture," held from 24-25 February 2026 in Rome, Italy. The Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture (GSA) provide a shared set of principles and recommendations to promote a sustainable, equitable aquaculture sector worldwide. While the guidelines offer a clear vision for the sector's economic, social, and environmental future, the current focus is on practical implementation.
Building on recent regional workshops, experts gathered to develop a decision-support tool to help countries adapt these guidelines into actionable national policies. Implementing the GSA requires robust institutional support, targeted capacity building, and innovative financing. NACA encourages stakeholders to integrate these guidelines into their governance frameworks, providing a roadmap to maximize aquaculture's contribution to food security and environmental conservation.
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The third High-Level Meeting on Aquaculture Transformation assessed progress towards 2030 transformation goals and identified priority actions for the Asia-Pacific region. The meeting report, covering discussions held 1-2 July 2025 in Shanghai, documents findings from representatives of NACA member governments, FAO and regional organisations.
Participants identified multiple barriers to sustainable intensification: farmer scepticism about unfamiliar technologies, limited access to expertise, and misaligned incentives that prioritise profit over environmental responsibility. Investment remains concentrated at higher levels rather than reaching small-scale producers. The discussions emphasised collaborative approaches, knowledge-based farming systems, and the need to document aquaculture's positive social impacts.
NACA and FAO will continue supporting National Innovation and Investment Plans in India, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Future work includes establishing an Aquaculture Innovation and Investment Hub and developing monitoring systems to track transformation progress across the region.
]]>The 3rd High‑Level Meeting on Aquaculture Transformation in Asia and the Pacific, held 1–2 July in Shanghai, brought together governments, industry leaders and development partners to drive innovation, investment and sustainability in the region’s aquaculture sector. Discussions focused on scaling low‑cost fish production, making technology adoption easier for small farmers, improving access to finance, and strengthening regional cooperation. The meeting set clear priorities for accelerating transformation by 2030, with resources and key presentations now available online. Videos of the presentations are available for viewing on YouTube.
]]>This presentation by Eduardo Leaño, Director General of NACA, provides a background and introduction to the 3rd High-Level Meeting on Aquaculture Transformation in the Asia-Pacific Region (HLM-3).
The region accounts for around 90% of global aquaculture production but faces mounting challenges including resource scarcity, environmental pressures, climate change, and shifting global dynamics. Addressing these requires a strategic shift driven by innovation, investment, and stronger partnerships to build more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable aquatic food systems.
HLM-3 builds on the outcomes of previous high-level meetings and the Aquaculture Transformation White Paper, with a focus on national innovation and investment plans, regional collaboration, and implementation efforts to achieve transformation by 2030.
]]>This video by Mike Phillips, CEO of FutureFish, explores the current state of aquaculture innovation and investment across the Asia-Pacific region. Technology innovation is advancing, especially for higher-value species, but challenges remain in scaling inclusive value chains and building climate resilience. Despite growth in private investment, significant financing gaps persist—particularly for SMEs and smallholders, who make up 90% of the sector. National policies, governance, and regulatory environments strongly influence the adoption and scaling of innovations.
The presentation highlights the importance of partnerships, innovation hubs, and better alignment between financing and transformation priorities to achieve sustainable and inclusive aquaculture development.
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