Bangkok, 7 October - NACA convened a one-day, in-person working group to shape the vision, mission and strategy for the AquaHub, a startup incubator and support network for innovators in the aquaculture space. The workshop focused on establishing the AquaHub’s vision, mission, values and partnership principles to define how it will operate, and the immediate steps required to mobilise partners and resources across the Asia–Pacific.
Participants began by clarifying the problems AquaHub should address and why a dedicated hub is the right vehicle. Small group exercises produced draft vision and mission statements looking to 2035, which were then refined through rapid peer feedback. This work was grounded in a brief review of AquaHub’s current status and the wider innovation landscape to ensure complementarity with existing efforts.
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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.
]]>Cweed Aquasolutions, a spin-off from Universiti Malaya, works with coastal communities to develop seaweed cultivation through integrated multi-trophic aquaculture. The initiative repurposes abandoned shrimp ponds in Peninsular Malaysia, providing training and technical support for farmers to start seaweed farming. Cweed Aquasolutions also buys back harvested product, creating a sustainable livelihood model that links community development with nature-based aquaculture solutions. This pitch was presented Adibi M. Nor, CTO of Cweed Aquaculture Solutions.
]]>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.
]]>DeepBlue Aquaculture, the world’s largest soft-shell crab operation, is pioneering the use of phytogenics to improve mud crab growth performance. Soft-shell crab farming is traditionally labor-intensive and low-yield, making it difficult to scale. Their proprietary plant-based additive, PhytoEcR, boosts mud crab growth and moulting rate—delivering up to 20% higher weight gain after 45–60 days, with a 40% increase in moulting rate and 35% faster moulting compared to control groups. PhytoEcR is now moving into commercial-scale testing, aligning with global trends in phytogenic feed solutions to enhance productivity and sustainability. This pitch was presented by Andrew Ng of Deep Blue aquaculture.
]]>In 2023, FAO and NACA initiated a consultation process on aquaculture effluent management in Asia and the Pacific in collaboration with NACA member governments. Experts across the region gathered information to assess the state of governance, advancements in technology and innovation in aquaculture effluent management. The consultative process culminated in an expert workshop, convened from 14 to 15 November, funded by FAO, to share views and national experiences on aquaculture effluent management.
]]>Risk analysis is an essential component of a national aquatic organism health strategy. Now widely applied in many fields, risk analysis provides a science-based framework for evaluating hazards, determining the likelihood and extent of potential harms, mitigating risks and guiding policy decisions. Combining risk and value chain analysis provides a risk-based and people-centred approach to managing disease risks and planning control measures for aquaculture systems. FAO organised a training course on Risk Analysis in the Value Chain from 3-5 September in Bangkok, Thailand, in partnership with NACA, INFOFISH, Thailand Department of Fisheries and the ASEAN Network of Aquatic Animal Health Centres. Financial support was provided by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and Thailand Department of Fisheries.
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