Book Description

In 1994, world aquaculture production reached 25.5 million mt, valued at US$ 39.83 billion. Asia contributed 89.9% of this total, and has since continued to dominate global production. The drive to produce more fish and shellfish to meet the growing demand has lead many aquaculturists in Asia to intensify their operations. In many instances, the complex balance between the fish/shellfish and the environment is not well understood, the organism under culture subsequently becoming stressed and prone to infections. As we have already witnessed, disease has been and will continue to be a major constraint to the development of the aquaculture industry. Considering the FAO's priority on developing sustainable aquaculture, the large Asian contribution to global aquaculture production and the seemingly high losses of revenue due to diseases and health-related problems, FAO, in consultation with the Network of Aquaculture Centres in the Asia-Pacific (NACA), the Aquatic Animal Health Research Institute (AAHRI), the South East Asian Fisheries Development Centre (SEAFDEC) and the Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM), and in collaboration with the Fish Health Section of the Asian Fisheries Society (FHS/AFS), organized a Regional Expert Consultation on Aquaculture Health Management in Asia and the Pacific, which was held at the Universiti Pertanian Malaysia in Serdang, Malaysia in May 1995. This document comprises the technical papers presented at the Consultation, and is a supplement to the report of the consultation, FAO Fisheries Report No. 529.