The World Veterinary Education in Production Animal Health (WVEPAH) invites applications for Module I: Fundamentals of Farm Health Management in Aquaculture - part of a certification programme leading to worldwide recognition in Aquaculture Production and Health, delivered by Université de Montréal and validated by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

This advanced hybrid training combines 40 hours of online learning with a residential week at James Cook University, Singapore, from 2-6 March 2026. The programme prepares aquaculture professionals to support farmers in disease prevention, biosecurity, surveillance, and product quality at farm, watershed, and national levels.

The course adopts a One Health approach, covering environment, nutrition, farm management, physiology, pathology, biosecurity, diagnostics, epidemiology, and international regulations. Through field visits and diagnostic laboratories, participants develop practical skills in necropsy, sampling, and case analysis.

Early bird registration (€2,400) closes 2 January 2026; regular fee €2,600.

The third Asia-Pacific Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program for Aquatic Animal Diseases has been launched, with a regional workshop in Bangkok bringing together 50 people from 13 countries and territories across the region. The program, supported by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, builds on more than a decade of collaboration to strengthen diagnostic capacity, safeguard aquaculture livelihoods, and support safe trade and food security.

ShrimpGuard, developed by BIOTEC, NSTDA, and Kasetsart University in Thailand, is a phage-based innovation for managing shrimp health. It targets Vibrio infections using bacteriophages combined with immune-boosting agents, reducing antimicrobial use while improving farm productivity and sustainability across ASEAN. The project also engages farmers directly through training, outreach, and field trials to ensure practical application and lasting benefits for coastal communities and the wider aquaculture sector. This pitch was presented by Wanilada Rungrassamee of BIOTEC.

QS Aqua Technology, a startup from the InnoHub Program of Universiti Putra Malaysia, develops nature-based probiotic solutions for sustainable aquaculture. Their approach combines beneficial bacteria that support gut health and maintain balanced pond ecosystems with quorum sensing inhibition compounds from microalgae. These compounds block harmful bacteria from communicating, preventing disease outbreaks and reducing dependence on antibiotics. By improving pond health and resilience through microbial and algal innovations, QS Aqua Technology offers farmers safer, more sustainable tools to manage aquaculture production. This pitch was presented by Maya Liyana Hamzah of QS Aqua Technology.

Kitiya Vongkamjan, co-founder of UniFAHS, shares the journey of building a pioneering phage biotechnology company in Thailand. UniFAHS develops bacteriophage-based solutions to tackle antimicrobial resistance and improve food safety in agriculture, aquaculture, livestock, and food processing. UniFAHS was recognised as a Global Finalist in the Extreme Tech Challenge 2022 and has grown into a venture-backed startup, raising USD 1.4 million in seed funding from A2D Ventures, ADB Ventures, and InnoSpace (Thailand). The story highlights how cutting-edge science can be transformed into scalable commercial solutions with real-world impact.

In this presentation, Fabian Reusch, founder of HydroNeo, shares the story of how HydroNeo began and the lessons learned along the way of building a tech startup in Thailand. Aimed at fellow aquaculture entrepreneurs and startup founders, his talk is an open and honest reflection on the realities of the journey — not a polished, glamorous pitch that only highlights the wins, but a candid look at both successes and setbacks, the difficult decisions, and the ongoing challenges that shape the real path of building a company.

Mariska Bottema (WorldFish) and Rebecca McMillan (IDRC) discuss the concept of nature-based aquaculture, why it matters for innovation and entrepreneurship, and how it can support ecosystems, communities, and profitability. Topics include: Defining nature-based aquaculture and its connection to nature-based solutions; criteria such as climate resilience, ecosystem health, reduced antimicrobial use, and inclusivity; global examples: mangrove–shrimp integration, women-led seaweed farming, integrated multi-trophic systems, and rice–fish farming; supportive technologies including IoT, renewable energy, and life cycle assessment; and opportunities for entrepreneurs: resilient farms, reduced risks, lower costs, premium markets, funding, and partnerships.

This video by Montakan Tamtin, Department of Fisheries, features two presentations from Thailand’s delegation to the 3rd High-Level Meeting on Aquaculture Transformation in Asia and the Pacific Region. The first showcases innovation and nature-based solutions in aquaculture via the IDRC-funded AQUADAPT Project; the second presents Thailand’s pilot initiative for low-carbon shrimp farming under an FAO Technical Cooperation Programme.

This video by Chokanan Prompichai, NACA, presents two promising innovations aimed at reducing antimicrobial use (AMU) in aquaculture, showcased as part of Thailand’s National Innovation and Investment Plan (NIIP) and via the IDRC-funded InnoVet-AMR 2.0 Project. NanoVac, developed by AIT, uses nanobubbles to deliver vaccines to tilapia, while ShrimpGuard, developed by BIOTEC and KU, is a bacteriophage-based solution for managing shrimp diseases. Both technologies offer potential to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) without leaving chemical residues. The presentation compares their readiness, challenges, and adoption, incorporating feedback from shrimp farmers across Thailand. It highlights the need for cost-effective, easy-to-use solutions that align with farmers' real-world needs and regulatory frameworks.