12th International Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture (DAA’12) Concludes in Chennai

27 September 2025, Chennai

ICAR–Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, in association with the National Fisheries Development Board and the Fish Health Section of the Asian Fisheries Society (AFS), successfully organized the 12th International Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture (DAA’12) from 23–27 September 2025 in Chennai.

Shri K.C. Devasenapathy, IAS, Secretary, Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA), Government of India, graced the event as Chief Guest and interacted with shrimp farmers. Institutional support from CAA, MPEDA, and NFDB was highlighted, while farmers shared their experiences and success stories in preventing and managing aquatic diseases.

The symposium was virtually inaugurated by Shri George Kurian, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Minority Affairs, in the presence of distinguished dignitaries including Dr. Joykrushna Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries), ICAR; Dr. N. Subbaiyan, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries & FW, Government of Tamil Nadu; Dr. Kua Beng Chu, Chairperson, AFS-FHS; Dr. Bijay Kumar Behera, Chief Executive, NFDB; and Dr. Kuldeep K. Lal, Director, ICAR-CIBA & Convener, DAA’12.

During the valedictory session, Dr. Tarun Shridhar, former Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Government of India, delivered the address, stressing the importance of real-time data for accurate assessment of economic losses due to aquatic diseases and emphasizing greater focus on health management. Awards for best oral and poster presentations were also conferred.

The four-day symposium featured eight technical sessions with participation from 436 delegates, including 71 international experts from 21 countries. Attendees included researchers, academicians, consultants, fisheries officers, postdoctoral fellows, and students. In addition to 257 oral and poster presentations, the symposium launched several notable outputs: a book on Aquatic Health Management and the diagnostic kit “Shrimp Saathi” a real-time PCR kit for detecting shrimp pathogens (WSSV and EHP), developed by D-NOME, Hyderabad, in collaboration with ICAR-CIBA. 
A MoU was also signed between ICAR-CIBA and Ms. Sandhya Aquamarine, Andhra Pradesh, for technology transfer of ICAR-CIBA’s Super Intensive, Precision, and Natural Shrimp Farming technology.

As part of DAA’12, the 5th Shrimp Farmers’ Conclave 2025 was held on 27 September, with the participation of over 50 farmers, stakeholders, and symposium delegates.
The Diseases in Asian Aquaculture (DAA) Symposium, organized triennially by the Fish Health Section of the AFS, Thailand, is a premier platform for exchanging knowledge, advancing research, and fostering collaborations to strengthen aquatic animal health management across the Asia–Pacific region.

The event was supported by national fisheries research institutions and development agencies. The theme of this year’s symposium was “Transformative Innovations Shaping the Future of Aquatic Animal Health Management.”

(Source: ICAR–Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai)