In this issue:

• AquaInnovate 2: Scaling nature-based solutions and regional synergy in Bangkok.
• Translucent post-larvae disease (TPD): Disease card.
• Strengthening the partnership: NACA welcomes new Director General of Thai DOF.
• Insights from the FAO Expert Workshop on Sustainable Aquaculture.
• Advancing global collaboration for sustainable aquaculture in Fuzhou, China.
• Reported Aquatic Animal Diseases in during the Third and Fourth Quarters of 2025.
• Scholarships for Master’s Degree in Aquaculture and Fisheries, China 2026.
• Report of the 24th Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health.

On 28 April 2026, the NACA Secretariat was privileged to welcome Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary of the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MOFAHD), Government of India. Dr. Likhi, who led a high-level delegation from the Indian Embassy, visited NACA’s Bangkok headquarters to engage in discussions aimed at deepening the collaborative bonds between India and the regional aquaculture community.

The visit underscored India’s pivotal role as a founding member of NACA. For decades, India has remained a cornerstone of the organisation, contributing significantly through the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). During the meeting with NACA Director General Dr. Eduardo Leano, the delegation discussed advancing regional aquaculture development with a specific focus on aquatic disease surveillance and transboundary knowledge exchange, sharing insights on how innovation can further modernise the sector.

This disease card provides an overview of Translucent Post-larvae Disease (TPD), a highly infectious and lethal disease known (thus far) to infect Penaeus vannamei, P. chinensis and P. japonicus mainly in post-larvae of four to seven days age (PL2~PL7). TPD can cause morbidity of up to 60% in 24 hours after clinical signs and up to 90-100% mortality in severe cases on the second to third day.

This card details the causative agent (a Vibrio spp. carrying the Vibrio high virulent protein VHP-1 and VHVP-2), host range, geographical distribution, epidemiology, prevention and control measures, histopathology, molecular diagnostics, expert contact and references.

This report summarises the proceedings of the 24th meeting of the Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health, held 24-25 November 2025 by video conference. The role of the group is to review trends in disease and emerging threats in the region, identify developments in global disease issues and standards, to evaluate the Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease Reporting Program and to provide guidance on regional strategies to improve aquatic animal health management.

In this issue:

• Thailand charts aquaculture transformation plan at Bangkok workshop.
• Report of the 3rd High-Level Meeting on Aquaculture Transformation in Asia and the Pacific Region.
• AquaHub Vision Workshop: Setting a direction.
• AquaHub private-sector engagement discussion at Third AQUADAPT Peer Learning Event.
• Veterinary training programme: Fundamentals of farm health management in aquaculture.
• Reported aquatic animal diseases in the Asia-Pacific region during the first and second quarters of 2025.
• PhD scholarships in marine sciences: Shanghai Ocean University PhD Programme 2026.

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.