25 June 2026Aravind R., P. Nila Rekha, R. Jayakumar, J.A.J. Raymond, P.S. Shyne Anand, N.S. Sudheer, R. Saraswathy, S. Aravind Kumar, M. Jayanthi and Kuldeep K. Lal | .pdf | 5.38 MB
Seaweed farming in India has long been confined to open coastal waters. But researchers are now proving that commercially valuable species can thrive in brackishwater ponds, lagoons, and tanks, especially when grown alongside shrimp, mud crab, and finfish. This article from ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture explains how integrating fast-growing Gracilaria and Ulva species into existing farms turns waste nutrients into a second cash crop, improves water quality, and raises the survival and quality of the animals farmed with them. It covers the most promising species, practical cultivation methods, and real field results: more than a three-fold increase in seaweed biomass, shrimp survival above 95%, and reduced feed conversion ratios. It also looks honestly at the hurdles - seed supply, salinity swings, disease, and pricing - that must be solved to scale up.
Along the coast of Purba Medinipur in West Bengal, sun-dried marine fish - known locally as 'Shutki machh' - has grown from a traditional way of saving surplus catch into a thriving regional business. At the Matsya Khoti of Junput-Biramput village, where commercial drying began some 70-75 years ago, around 550-600 producers now sort, salt, and dry fish on raised bamboo platforms before sending it to markets across north-east India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.
This article takes a close look at how the dried fish trade works: the species and methods, the road transport network, the food culture and recipes carried into West Bengal by refugees, the women whose labour underpins much of the work, and asks what is needed to keep this tradition healthy and sustainable.
FAO's State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2026 provides data and insights on the current challenges and opportunities shaping the global seafood sector. This edition focuses on the FAO’s "Blue Transformation" strategy, outlining how field projects and policy initiatives contribute to global food security, poverty alleviation, and economic growth.
The report has three main sections:
Global Status: Updated statistics on production, employment, and trade, supported by improved data collection and analytical tools.
Sector Management: Practical steps being taken to expand aquaculture responsibly, manage wild fisheries effectively, and improve supply chains.
Future Projections: Regional policy measures, climate change research integration, and industry outlooks through 2034.
The publication serves as a factual resource for policymakers, researchers, industry actors, and consumers tracking the development of sustainable aquatic food systems. You can explore the data that SOFIA 2026 is based on in our Aquaculture Statistics Dashboard.
Good fisheries and aquaculture policy depends on good data. The new Aquaculture Statistics Dashboard, based on authoritative FAO data, makes exploring it easier than ever, bringing decades of global fisheries and aquaculture statistics together in one place, ready to use in your browser. It's free, and you can download the datasets and take them with you if you want.
Six sections answer different questions: global production trends, species rankings, country profiles, trade flows, production environments, and per-capita consumption alongside food insecurity. Charts load instantly and update as filters change. A single click filters to any NACA member state; autocomplete search covers species by common or scientific name; and every chart offers a one-click CSV export of the full dataset.
18 May 2026Vallainc, D., Estevez, A., Júdez, S.R, Concu, D., Carboni, S., Duncan, N., and Lovatelli, A. | 206 Downloads | .pdf | 13.09 MB
This technical manual provides practical guidance on the hatchery production of the flathead grey mullet, Mugil cephalus, a high-value, low-trophic marine species with strong potential for sustainable aquaculture development. It compiles current knowledge and tested methodologies covering the entire production cycle, from broodstock management and captive reproduction to larval rearing, fry production and grow-out.
The manual presents the biological and developmental characteristics of the species, together with practical recommendations for hatchery site selection, design and operational management. It also describes live feed production, including microalgae, rotifers and Artemia, as well as health management and disease prevention in hatchery systems.
Based on experimental research validated at laboratory and pilot scales, the techniques described are suitable for application in commercial hatcheries and adaptable to both small- and large-scale operations. By supporting reliable seed production and improved culture practices, this publication contributes to the sustainable expansion of aquaculture in line with the FAO Blue Transformation Roadmap and the principles of the Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture.
