The major expansion of aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific region over the past two decades has been driven by market needs. Appropriate technologies have been developed and implemented. In recent decades, several Asian countries have emerged as leading finfish producers worldwide. This was evidenced at the recent APA2024 conference from 2 to 5 July in Surabaya, Indonesia. APC organized this conference with the Directorate General of Aquaculture, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Indonesia. 
APC organized this conference with the Directorate General of Aquaculture, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Indonesia. The event was officially inaugurated by the Honorable Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Ma’ruf Amin, marking a momentous occasion. On the same day, His Excellency also inaugurated the tradeshow. This event represented the huge aquaculture assembly in the Asia-Pacific region, drawing over 6,051 delegates from 63 countries and featuring 226 exhibitors with booths. The main theme of APA 2024 was "Aquaculture - Driving the Blue Economy." A diverse array of exhibitors and speakers, representing both local and international perspectives, gathered to present the most recent advancements and technologies pertinent to the growth of the aquaculture sector.
On the inaugural day of the plenary session, which took place on Wednesday, July 3, we had the honor of hosting Prof. Dr. Rokhmin Dahuri, the President of the Indonesia Aquaculture Society and the former Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries from 2001 to 2004. Following his address, Dr. J.K. Jena, the Deputy Director General of Fisheries Science at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), India, took the stage. Both distinguished speakers provided insightful presentations on the global aquaculture industry and the prevailing conditions in their respective countries.
The occasion represented a remarkable milestone in the realms of academia, science, technology, and commercial endeavors.  For me, it was an outstanding experience. I would like to express my appreciation to the host organizer, sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, participants, the conference management team, and the members of the Steering and Regional Organizing Committees. Additionally, I extend my congratulations to the recipients of the Student Travel, Women Travel, and Best Presentation awards from APA 2024.
The process of inducting new members generally takes place during the Annual Board meeting, which was recently held in Surabaya alongside the APA event. At this meeting, the APC Board members, both longstanding and newly appointed, engaged in discussions regarding various future initiatives designed to improve the Chapter's operations. My familiarity with this process is due to my association with the APC Board since 2016, making all activities quite recognizable. I extend my gratitude to the APC members for providing me with these valuable experiences since 2016.
 I welcome innovative ideas and proposals aimed at improving our Chapter or organization. We have an exciting lineup of conferences scheduled, and I eagerly anticipate the chance to connect with you at one of our upcoming events, WA25, in Qingdao, China. Additionally, we are exploring potential new venues for the APA event, with options such as Cambodia or Vietnam, among others.