Aquaculture
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12348/2
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- Inland fisheries in Cambodia are of great importance to the livelihoods of rural communities, as they provide sustenance and seasonal income for the local population. Community fish refuges (CFRs) are natural or human-made water bodies that hold water throughout the year, providing a dry-season sanctuary for aquatic life. Managed mainly by the local community, CFRs support diverse ecological and human functions, such as biodiversity repositories, including fish stocks, and provide water for irrigation, livestock, and domestic needs. These initiatives have been promoted by several organizations in Cambodia since the 1990s, showing positive ecological impacts and improving food security, especially for marginalized populations. However, the social dimensions of management, the role of local knowledge, and the underlying knowledge systems remain understudied. The objective of this study is to gain insight into the governance mechanisms of CFRs in relation to the local knowledge of management. Four CFR projects conducted by WorldFish and NGO partners between 2016 and 2021 in Central Cambodia were selected for the analysis. A participatory approach was employed using causal loop diagrams (CLDs) through focus group discussions (FGDs) with local stakeholders (n = 38). The methodological approach was based on three phases: exploratory interviews (n=23), causal-loop FGDs (n=4), and FGDs for data validation (n=4). Our study highlights the importance of context-specific and relational knowledge in CFR management, as well as the importance of institutional structures, power dynamics, and social differentiation in shaping knowledge access, distribution, and management. Social mobilization mainly involves village representatives mediating between villagers and external entities, with a certain degree of concentration of power within groups of stakeholders. Enhancing community governance through more inclusive, dialogue-based communication and potentially leveraging informal networks is recommended to channel social learning, considering the sociocultural context and challenges of decentralization in Cambodia.
- This user manual is produced as a part of Center of Renewable Energy in Aquaculture (CeREA) project, a 4-year groundbreaking initiative funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Cairo in collaboration with WorldFish. Biogas, a form of renewable energy, can be harnessed from organic waste to produce clean energy for a range of farm operations. This practical guide provides a scientific overview of biogas production requirements, economic and technical design options and the environmental benefits across the aquaculture value chain. It also highlights future opportunities to expand the adoption of biogas technology as part of sustainable and socially responsible aquaculture practices.
- Tilapia 2025 highlighted an urgent global call for innovation, stronger integration, and improved profitability to modernize the tilapia sector. With 266 participants from over 40 countries, the conference emphasized technology adoption, sustainability, and international collaboration as key drivers for strengthening production, markets, and value chains worldwide.
- Nepal’s aquaculture sector, historically dominated by low‑input carp farming, is undergoing transformation through the development of a specialized tilapia value chain. With rising national demand for fish, limited domestic supply, and increasing youth migration, tilapia presents a high‑potential species for commercialization and employment generation. The establishment of a state‑of‑the‑art monosex tilapia hatchery at CAARP marks a major step toward improving seed quality, expanding production, and diversifying livelihoods. CAARP’s strategy includes upgrading hatcheries into a Tilapia Broodstock Center, creating farmer clusters, developing franchise hatcheries, and promoting modern technologies to address misconceptions and improve profitability. By strengthening seed systems, training farmers, and building market and service networks—including nurseries, LSPs, processors, and cold storage—the initiative aims to create a fully integrated value chain. This approach positions tilapia aquaculture as a scalable solution to boost income, reduce fish imports, address malnutrition, and enhance rural economic development in Nepal.
- Timor‑Leste’s GIFT aquaculture model rapidly increased smallholder tilapia productivity—from 1 t/ha to over 17 t/ha—through improved seed, feed, management practices, and market access. The model strengthened value‑chain linkages, expanded farmer participation, and significantly improved household incomes, demonstrating strong potential for scaling across SIDS and similar smallholder contexts.
- Timor‑Leste’s GIFT tilapia model rapidly boosted smallholder productivity—from 1 t/ha to over 17 t/ha—and shortened production cycles, enabling two harvests annually. Improved seed, feed, training, and market systems expanded participation to more than 850 farmers, raising national output from 45t to over 800t and significantly increasing household incomes. The model demonstrates strong scalability for improving food security, livelihoods, and rural economic development in tropical smallholder contexts.
- Tilapia aquaculture in Pacific Island Countries and Timor‑Leste is expanding but remains small‑scale and constrained by limited access to quality fingerlings, high feed costs, and low enterprise capacity. The introduction of improved GIFT strains and better production inputs—especially in Timor‑Leste and Papua New Guinea—shows strong potential to boost productivity, food security, and climate resilience. Strengthening hatchery systems, sustainable feed development, and coordinated capacity building are key to enabling scalable, commercially viable tilapia farming across the region.
- The development of aquaculture in the Indo-Pacific region is seen as an opportunity to enhance food security and provide livelihood options for rural communities. In parts of Asia and South America, tilapia aquaculture has become a critical source of protein for local populations and has been shown to be an avenue of growth for smallholder enterprises. However, there has been limited growth in tilapia aquaculture in Timor-Leste and Pacific island countries. While the literature on tilapia aquaculture is extensive, it does not provide accessible solutions to address the specific challenges of tilapia aquaculture in Timor-Leste and Pacific island countries. To understand and guide future research investment, ACIAR commissioned a review of the major challenges to tilapia aquaculture in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. The results of the review, published in this technical report, provide insight into important areas of focus for future research and capacity development. The report also interprets the information available in the context of contemporary challenges, such as climate change, market-oriented value chains, and social and cultural attitudes towards tilapia and tilapia farming.
- Aquatic food holds significant cultural and nutritional value in Nepal. However, Nepal’s per capita fish consumption (3.9 kg/year) is significantly lower than the global average (20.7 kg). Total fish supply in Nepal from catch and culture was estimated at 113,736 mt in 2023 and would require a supply of over 0.6 million mt to reach the global average. Given the rapid decline of fishery resources, accelerated development of sustainable aquaculture is crucial. With greater climate resilience, aquaculture can play a vital role in enhancing healthy ecosystems and the rural economy, providing significantly higher returns on land and labour. However, there is a need for a holistic approach to harness the country’s aquaculture potential. There is potential to triple aquaculture production from the existing 15,000 ha of total aquaculture area if current fish productivity of 5.5 tons/ha/cycle could be increased to 17 tons/ha/cycle while halving the culture period from the current 12 to 6 months and allowing farmers to complete two production cycles annually. Transforming traditional low-input and low-output systems of carp culture and promoting the sustainable intensive culture of fast-growing, stress-tolerant species such as tilapia and pangasius is crucial for the scaling up of aquaculture. Setting the milestones of production targets, all the levels of the government of Nepal need to prioritize and promote aquaculture to utilize promising species, modern technologies and experience from various countries. Drawing from the research and development experiences of Nepal and other countries, a roadmap consisting of various sustainable aquaculture development models to unlock Nepal’s aquaculture potential is proposed to significantly increase fish supply and consumption. This includes aquaculture suitability analyses, devising promising technologies for fast-growing and highly productive species, ensuring sustainable input supply and output marketing systems, and creating an enabling policy environment. Special focus needs to be given to public–private sector participation (PPP), especially for the establishment and expansion of hatcheries, nurseries, the feed industry, a network of local service providers (LSPs), transportation, storage, processing and marketing systems.
- This manual describes the development of IMTA Invest, including its main features and functions. The manual is organized into four sections detailing the tool’s design, functionality, and step-by-step instructions for effective use. For future extensions and scaling, feedback on the usability of IMTA Invest’s features and functions was elicited from potential end-users through a participatory, iterative simulation process. This approach ensures that the refinement and future extension of IMTA Invest are user driven, enhancing its practicality, usability, and potential for broader adoption and scaling.
- The Odisha government imparts residential training to the fish farmers from time to time under different state and central government schemes whose actual well-being impact has never been evaluated. In line with this, the present study assessed the direct influence of such training on the well-being of the aquaculture farmers, measured in terms of household income, contribution of fish farm income, and monthly consumption expenditure on food. The study randomly sampled cross-sectional data of 194 farmers from select districts of Odisha and employed propensity score matching (PSM) model as a way of controlling selection bias. The findings showed significant improvement in the household income, proportion of fish farm income, and monthly consumption expenditure, respectively, by log of 0.31-0.34, 23.07-23.67 percentage points, and INR 643-721 among the trained group. Overall, the findings of the study suggest intensification of the training programme in Odisha for sustainable aquaculture sector development and the welfare of the farmers.
- Fish loss during harvest and post-harvest is a major concern in fisheries and aquaculture, and much of this loss is due to the poor knowledge and attitude of fishers and farmers. The present study aimed to assess existing knowledge and attitudes towards better fish handling, while examining the association between socio-demographic factors and knowledge and attitude levels. Using cross-sectional data of 194 fish producers and employing item response theory (IRT) and regression techniques the study indicated that fish farmers had a lower-than-average score for most of the knowledge and attitude items relating to fish handling during harvest and post-harvest. The findings of the study further pointed out that socio-demographic factors such as education level, possession of a smartphone (β = 0.715, p = 0.000), membership in a farmer organization (β = 0.227, p = 0.075) and experience (β = 0.020, p =0.074) are important determinants for realizing higher knowledge score and possession of a smartphone (β = 0.693, p = 0.000) membership (β = 0.281, p = 0.014), and family size (β = 0.046, p = 0.080) are significant determinants for attitude score. The study recommends the need for diffusion of training programmes specifically targeting educated and member-producers (of producer groups) for better training outcomes and sustainable aquaculture sector development.
- This manual is one of the outputs of the Partnership for Aquaculture Development in Timor-Leste Phase 2 (PADTL2). PADTL2 project (2020–2024) is co-funded by the MFAT and USAID and is implemented jointly by WorldFish and Timor-Leste’s NDA, Ministry of Agriculture Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry (MALFF). The guidelines in this document are based on testing and validating market preparation and marketing techniques for GIFT in Timor-Leste through the voluntary participation of all stakeholders, including farmers, local service providers (LSPs) and market operators across Baucau, Bobonaro, Ermera and Lautem.
- This booklet outlines the better management practices (BMP) for nursing monosex Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) fry into high-quality, ready-to-stock fingerlings for grow-out ponds. These simple, low cost methods have been tested and validated over 5 years of research and development in Timor-Leste.
- Malaysian public awareness of sustainable aquaculture is growing, particularly regarding environmental conservation and food safety. However, acceptance of products from Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqP) and nature-based aquaculture (NbA) remains early-stage due to price sensitivity, limited understanding of sustainability labels, and confusion over farmed vs. wild fish quality. Studies show that with clear certification and trustworthy information, consumers—especially health‑ and environment‑conscious groups—are increasingly willing to support and pay more for sustainably farmed products. Strengthening public education, improving transparent labelling, and ensuring affordability can accelerate Malaysia’s transition toward greener, more climate‑resilient aquaculture.
- By 2030, 115,000 tonnes of fish will be needed to maintain the current demand for food fish in the Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs). There is also a need to sustain the current fish supply for Pacific Islanders. Aquaculture is a potential sector that can contribute to fish production in the PICTs. However, the sector is only emerging and is still faced with several constraints. These constraints include technical ones: tenure rights andgood governance; biosecurity concerns; availability of flexible financial support; and viable input and output markets. In the long term, this ‘business-as-usual’ approach to aquaculture is necessary to drive the sector’s growth in the PICTs. In the short term, however, attempting to overcome these barriers with limited resources will only perpetuate the sector’s stagnant growth. An alternative trajectory for aquaculture development is needed: one that enables the sector to realistically operate and grow within the identified constraints, fulfil the economic and social benefits of aquaculture but also prioritise its environmental aspects. It should also build upon indigenous food system practices and ensure resilience to climate variability and change. Nature-based solutions (NbS) to aquaculture is a potential pathway for aquaculture development that can support a climate-smart, socially inclusive, nutrition-sensitive, and economically efficient sector in the PICTs.
- This report presents a practical, data-driven framework for assessing climate risks in fisheries and aquaculture, with a focus on Bangladesh, Kenya, and Zambia, where aquatic food systems are critical to food security, livelihoods, and economic development but increasingly exposed to climate stressors. It consolidates and evaluates available climate, hydrological, ecological, production, and socioeconomic datasets, and compares predictive, statistical, and integrated risk-based analytical approaches to identify those most viable under current data constraints. The report adopts an IPCC AR6–aligned integrated risk framework that combines climate hazards, exposure, and vulnerability to generate comparative insights without relying on precise outcome predictions. These methods provide the analytical foundation for developing country-level climate-risk profiles to inform adaptation planning, sectoral strategies, and climate investment in aquatic food systems.
- Climate change poses growing risks to aquatic food systems, particularly in vulnerable regions. At the same time, aquatic foods offer potential for climate adaptation and mitigation because of their relatively low environmental footprints and contributions to livelihoods and nutrition. Despite this dual role, however, the extent to which climate policies and aquatic foods policies are aligned is seldomly considered. This report assesses the coherence between climate policy and aquatic foods policy in Kenya and Zambia. The analysis focuses on sectoral fisheries and aquaculture policies and national-level climate frameworks, specifically Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and climate action strategies. Using a structured analytical framework, coherence was assessed across objectives, measures, policy instruments, implementation arrangements, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and horizontal and vertical coordination. Thirteen national-level policy documents were analyzed: seven from Kenya and six from Zambia. Documents were systematically coded using keyword searches and a deductive codebook, and each was scored using a coherence index (scale 1–10) that weighted objectives, instruments, implementation, M&E, coordination, and aquatic foods specificity. Overall, the results show a fragmented but evolving policy landscape in both countries. Climate frameworks tend to integrate aquatic food systems more consistently than fisheries and aquaculture policies integrate climate considerations. In Kenya, the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAPIII) and the country’s NAP demonstrate strong coherence, with clear objectives, multiple instruments, quantified targets, budget allocations, and defined institutional responsibilities. In Zambia, coherence is strongest in the National Aquaculture Trade Development Strategy, which operationalizes climate-smart aquaculture as part of an economic growth and diversification agenda. In contrast, older fisheries legislation and sectoral implementation plans in both countries show little or no reference to climate risks, adaptation, or mitigation. These documents score lowest on coherence, highlighting a lag between rapidly evolving climate policy agendas and slower sectoral and legal reform processes. A key finding is that alignment at the level of objectives alone is insufficient. High coherence is associated with concrete instruments, implementation pathways, budget lines, and M&E frameworks. Where climate–aquatic foods linkages remain largely aspirational, such as in some NDCs and high- level policies, coherence is considerably weaker. Common gaps across both countries include limited M&E systems, weak vertical coherence between national and subnational levels, and a lack of formal cross-referencing between climate and aquatic foods policies. The findings suggest that strengthening coherence requires aligning and updating existing policies rather than creating and layering new ones. Key entry points include revising fisheries and aquaculture policies to embed climate resilience, strengthening M&E systems, and improving coordination across climate, fisheries, and planning institutions. The analytical framework used in this study is lightweight and replicable, offering potential for broader application to support climate-responsive governance of aquatic food systems in other countries.
- Community Fish Refuges (CFRs) constitute a foundational element of Cambodia’s inland fisheries, food security, and climate resilience. Evidence from six CFRs in Kampong Thom and Prey Veng provinces demonstrates that CFRs serve as ecological refugia during the dry season, facilitate seasonal fish migration across ricefield, floodplain, and river systems, and contribute to integrated, decentralized governance of water, fisheries, and agriculture. The findings confirm that CFRs significantly enhance aquatic biodiversity, ricefield fisheries productivity, and household nutrition. However, systemic challenges remain, including weak hydrological coordination with irrigation systems, inconsistent institutional recognition across governance levels, insufficient gender inclusion in management structures, and chronic under-financing. Most CFRs rely on short-term external donor support, with no direct allocation from Commune Development Funds or provincial budgets. This policy brief recommends: (1) embedding CFRs in formal water and irrigation planning; (2) upgrading their legal and institutional status at provincial levels; (3) establishing sustainable public financing mechanisms; (4) strengthening gender responsive governance; and (5) scaling integrated district-level governance models through District Technical Working Groups (DTWGs). With strategic investment and coordination, CFRs can serve as scalable landscape models for climate adaptive food system governance throughout Cambodia.
- This study examines the role of CFRs in promoting the integration of water, land, and aquatic food systems, with particular emphasis on their function as landscape-level connectors linking rivers, floodplains, irrigation systems, and rice fields. Moving beyond a narrow focus on fish conservation, the study conceptualizes CFRs as multi-use, community-governed socio-ecological systems that contribute simultaneously to fisheries productivity, agricultural water management, and local food and nutrition security. The research addresses three overarching questions: how different governance models influence CFR effectiveness and scalability; how CFRs can be demonstrated as landscape models for integrated resource management; and how integrated governance differs from conventional, sector-specific approaches. The study draws on six CFR case studies located in Prey Veng Province in the Mekong Delta and Kampong Thom Province in the Tonle Sap floodplain. These sites were selected to capture variation in hydrological conditions, institutional arrangements, and livelihood contexts, including CFRs connected to large lakes (Boeng Sneh and Boeng Ream) and to irrigation systems such as the Taing Krasaing Irrigation System. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining secondary data review, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory mapping. Analysis focused on CFR physical characteristics, hydrological and ecological connectivity, institutional recognition, management structures, community participation, and links with district-level governance mechanisms such as District Technical Working Groups (DTWGs).