Complementing Module 1 on the technical dimension of commercial aquaculture, this training module looks at the economic aspects of aquaculture development and discusses sustainability and business planning. It provides guidance for small- and medium-scale fish farmers on assessing the economic and financial viability of their fish farms, including the technicalities of cost structure and cash flow analyses.

This first module on managing aquaculture as a business covers technical aspects such as primary productivity, carrying capacity, growth rate and yield in water, general classification criteria for aquaculture systems and the main features of pond- and cage-based fish farming systems. It will be complemented by a second module on the economic aspects.

The Zambian Government, in collaboration with FAO, undertook the elaboration of this curriculum (part I) within the framework of the Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project (UTF/ZAM/077/ZAM). Furthermore, FAO complemented the practicality of this curriculum by drafting and refining the Training Manual (part II), which has been tested in many African countries and with different stakeholders. To ensure complementarity of opportunities and clear progression of education and capacity development, each actor involved in the sector should strive to network with teaching institutions, researchers and producers to guarantee that the curriculum remains relevant and stays abreast of developments for aquaculture practitioners; this will include developing national, regional and international linkages with institutions involved in aspects of training for aquaculture. Therefore, this curriculum will function as a living document.

It is within the culture of citizens of Caribbean Islands to consume seafood. It is this culture that has led to wide diversification of seafood types and dishes. Our roadside and community ‘Fish Fry’ events are a staple event for several Caribbean Islands for our locals. Whether it's flying fish and mahi mahi grilling at Oistens in Barbados, Gros Islet Friday Night Street Party in St. Lucia, Gouyave in Grenada, steam fish in Port Royal, Jamaica, curry crab, callaloo and dumplings in Store Bay, Tobago or Bake and Shark in Maracas Beach, Trinidad, these islands have seafood consumption embedded within their souls. This has now become a spatial and temporal landmark on several tourism guides, which indicate days and times these ‘Fish Fry’ events occur.

This FAO publication on brine shrimp is a manual for all those who are using Artemia or have an interest in this organism, whether as a source of live food in the hatchery, as a model organism in research, or for other purpose. [Author] It is intended for those who wish to update their knowledge on its biology, production or its use, but also for those who want to learn about Artemia for the first time. [Author] A team of leading Artemia experts from around the globe with diverse backgrounds, expertise and working in research, education and/or the industry have jointly contributed to its writing. [Author] This manual presents in a concise form essential information on Artemia biology and the most important natural cyst resources that find their way to the aquaculture market. [Author] It also provides detailed information on general principles and practical procedures to produce Artemia in ponds and in tank systems. [Author] Finally, the manual offers a compilation of state-of-the-art guidelines and methodologies related to the use of this crucial live food organism in aquaculture. [Author] The illustrations, tables and practical worksheets will help the reader to implement the correct procedures in the production and use of Artemia. [Author] This publication is a must for anyone working with this unique organism. [Author]

The Expert Consultation on the Development of the Sustainable Aquaculture Guidelines was held in Rome, Italy from 17 to 20 June 2019 to come out with a proposal for developing the Sustainable Aquaculture Guidelines to be presented in August 2019 at the tenth session of the Sub-Committee on Aquaculture of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI). The specific objectives of this Expert Consultation were to propose criteria for selecting case studies aimed at providing lessons learned for the development of the Sustainable Aquaculture Guidelines, and methodologies for documenting the case studies, for analysing the case studies to identify the lessons learned, and for developing the Sustainable Aquaculture Guidelines by also making use of existing guidelines. The consultation was attended by 15 experts, one resource person and FAO staff. The consultation was organized into both plenary and group discussions. The Experts agreed on a proposed methodology for identifying and selecting the lessons learned from strategies and experiences of aquaculture development worldwide; a methodology for documenting and analysing the lessons learned; a list of thematic modules; a gap analysis between existing guidelines and needs for new ones, and; an updated roadmap for the development of the Sustainable Aquaculture Guidelines.

This technical paper presents three major sets of information resource: (i) five case studies from five Asian countries, (ii) the synthesis of the case studies and (iii) the report of the regional workshop that reviewed the case studies and the draft synthesis of the case study reports, provided additional science-based, professional, and experiential information, and developed recommendations to strengthen, empower and sustain organizations of small-scale fish farmers and related aquaculture-based enterprises.

This training workshop aims to improve the entrepreneurial capacity of organized small-scale aquaculture producers to develop a market for their products, integrate their enterprise in the value chain, and participate effectively in the value chain. The main participants were the members of a women’s association called the Binmaley Rural Improvement Club (BRIC). They are farming milkfish, and processing and marketing milkfish-based product forms. The technical sessions had three parts: (1) presentations of the case study, five learning modules, and overview of a national programme on ‘Gender responsive economic actions for the transformation of women’, (2) group exercises on the three selected topics, i.e. generating innovative product ideas, developing a basic business plan for a product, and improving the market for existing products, and (3) discussion on the case study and on the working group results. The programme included a field trip to the existing processing facility of BRIC.

With reference to India.

The FAO Expert Workshop on Methods and Indicators for Evaluating the Contribution of Small-scale Aquaculture to Sustainable Rural Development held in Nha Trang, Viet Nam, from 24 to 28 November 2009, attempted to develop an indicator system to measure the contribution of SSA. The workshop used a number of processes and steps in the developing the indicator system, including: (i) understanding the subject of measurements; (ii) identifying an analytical framework and ratting criteria (iii) developing a list of SSA contributions; (iv) categorising the contributions; (v) devising and organising the indicators of contribution; and (vi) measuring the indicators. The major outcome was the development, through an iterative process, of an indicator system which can provide a good measure of the contribution of SSA based on agreed criteria (accuracy, measurability and efficiency) and the sustainable livelihood approach analytical framework which consists of five capital assets (human, financial, physical, social and natural) and can be used for various livelihoods options.