Toward Systematic Breeding of Asian Sea Bass, Lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790), in Malaysia: Status, Challenges and Prospects for Future Development

Asian sea bass, Lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790), is one of the most farmed marine fish in Malaysia since the 1970 s and is predominantly cultured at present.Although it has been farmed for some time, there is no systematic breeding programme in place.Local hatcheries rely heavily on wild and imported broodstock.However, imported stocks do not guarantee improved quality and even increase the chances of introducing pathogens into the country.

The Fish Health Section (FHS) | Asian Fisheries Society

The Fish Health Section (FHS)

One of the two sections within the Society, the Fish Health Section (FHS) was founded in May 1989 with the following objectives: to (1) promote effective interaction and cooperation among persons involved in aquatic animal health research; (2) encourage and promote investigation and advances in knowledge of aquatic animal health; (3) focus attention on aquatic animal health problems by disseminating technical and other information on all aspects of aquatic animal health; and (4) promote the proper implementation of effective aquatic animal health protection practices in the region. More detailed information can be found at the society website at http://www.fhs-afs.net/.

The FHS is governed by an Executive Committee (ExeCom), with 11 members composed of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary-Treasurer, and eight ExeCom members including the past Chairperson and the Fish Health Newsletter editor. The present (2011-2014) Chairperson is Prof. Chadag Mohan from Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia Pacific (NACA), Bangkok, Thailand.

The FHS, holds a regular triennial "Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture" (DAA), a meeting of members and aquatic animal health professionals that discuss broad issues and specific topics related to aquatic animal health; compiles and disseminates proceedings, notes, abstracts of Section-sponsored conferences and workshops and other relevant information on aquatic animal health, and promotes the development and use of standardized, internationally accepted techniques for the detection and diagnosis of diseases of aquatic animals of regional importance. Eight previous symposia were held in Bali of Indonesia (1990), Phuket of Thailand (1993), Bangkok of Thailand (1996), Cebu of Philippines (1999), Surfers Paradise-Gold Coast of Australia (2002), Colombo of Sri Lanka (2005), Taipei of Taiwan (2008) and Magalore of India (2011). Further details on all the past DAA including publications are available at the FHS website.

The Triennial General Meeting (TGM) of the Fish Health Section is held in conjunction with the DAA which elects, by ballot, the officers of the Section and serves as a venue to conduct business meeting of the general assembly. The Section also co-organizes scientific symposia or workshops on topics of interest to the membership independently or in conjunction with the Asian Fisheries Society or any other organization with mutual interests in aquatic animal health.

The FHS is financed through the income from its triennial Symposia. There is no membership fee for FHS. Membership is open to all persons of the Asian Fisheries Society interested in the furtherance of the FHS objectives.

Current FHS membership spans many regions such as Africa (Nigeria, South Africa); Americas (Canada, Mexico, USA); Austral-Asia (Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Korea Rep, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, Mauritius, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea); Europe (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Norway, The Netherlands, UK).

The FHS has formal contacts with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), International Development Research Centre of Canada, Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA), Aquaculture Department of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), World Aquaculture Society (WAS) and the other professional global societies on aquatic animal health such as Fish Health Section of the American Fisheries Society, the European Society of Fish Pathology, and the Japanese Society of Fish Pathology.

The ninth Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture (DAA 9), and the 10th Triennial General Meeting (TGM-10) of the FHS, will be held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from 24-28 November, 2014. Detailed information will be made available soon at the FHS website and DAA9 website.

Chairperson: Dr.Kua Beng Chu (Malaysia)