Asian aquaculture continues to play an important role in world production despite emerging diseases and uncertain markets. The marine shrimp sector, which contributes significantly to the aquaculture trade in many Asian countries, faces many of these issues, particularly from diseases in Penaeus vannamei, such as the Translucent post-larvae disease (TPD) caused by different strains of Vibrio, as well as the Infectious Myonecrosis Virus (IMNV) in Indonesia. The VTPD reported first in 2020 in China, is apparently spreading fast across several coastal shrimp farms there, and most recently reported from Vietnam, causing postlarval mortality shortly after stocking in ponds. The new year also posed greater market challenges for the global shrimp business, mainly due to overproduction and supply from some of the largest producers. Freshwater and marine fish, as well as the aquafeed sector, have been facing major problems affecting sustainable production, supply chain disruptions impacting trade and input supplies, and the implications of climate change.

The global aquaculture industry will converge in Surabaya to discuss these issues and others at the next Asian Pacific Aquaculture (APA) 2024, held from 2 - 5 July, 2024. We are collaborating with our Indonesian colleagues to organize another mammoth conference following APA 2016 at the same venue that brought over 6000 participants. Based on this track record, we expect APA2024 at the Grand City Hall Convention Centre Surabaya to be the next big thing in Asian aquaculture. We are already seeing promising industry interest and widespread attention to this event. To encourage greater participation, the deadline for abstract submission has been extended to 31 March. I propose that all WAS-APC members and colleagues schedule their presentations and organize special sessions in Surabaya to help us set a new record among WAS conferences.

WAS has recently decided to provide free student memberships and special discounted registration fees for students to attend conferences. We’ve also offered multiple travel awards for students and women’s travel awards to help more participants from Asian countries attend APA 2024. Details on these announcements can be found on the WAS-APA website at https://www.was.org/APC. We actively seek industry support for these prizes through nominal contributions. If you would like to offer a travel award to a student or another participant attending APA 2024, please email the WAS-APC secretariat at apcsec@was.org.

At the Aquaculture America 2024 conference conducted by the US Chapter in San Antonio, Texas, I had the opportunity to connect with representatives from the WAS African Chapter. We agreed to explore possibilities for both the Asian and African chapters to collaborate. I’ve invited Dr. Foluke Areola, President of the WAS African Chapter, to attend the upcoming APC Board meeting in early April. We expect that this will be a new beginning in our pursuit of various partnership options. This would also allow Africa’s rapidly growing aquaculture industry to draw on successful Asian examples while adapting them to the increasing needs of African aquaculture.

We are now in the process of electing new office bearers to lead the Asian-Pacific Chapter over the next term. The ballot has been completed and is being announced. I request all WAS-APC members vote for the upcoming positions of President-elect, two Directors, and Treasurer. The new Board is set to assume office during the APA 2024 meeting in Surabaya.

Asian aquaculture is critical to the food and nutritional security of a rapidly expanding Asian population and meeting the demands for premium seafood markets worldwide. We seek to emphasize the strength of the Asian industry, which is positioned to become a more resilient sector across the region, when we unveil the final program of APA 2024 at the next Steering Committee meeting on 30 April in Surabaya. Together, we will make this another outstanding Asian-Pacific conference. See you all soon in Surabaya.

Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Pathum Thani, Bangkok, Thailand 12120 Email: salinkr@ait.ac.th
— Krishna Salin, President