NACA (Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific)
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| Name | NACA (Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific) |
| Formation | 1988 |
| Type | Intergovernmental organization |
| Headquarters | Bangkok, Thailand |
| Region served | Asia-Pacific |
| Leader title | Director General |
NACA (Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific) is an intergovernmental organization established in 1988 to promote sustainable aquaculture development across the Asia-Pacific. It operates from Bangkok and works with a network of national research institutes, ministrys, and non-governmental organizations to support policy, capacity building, and technology transfer. NACA collaborates with multilateral bodies and bilateral partners to integrate fisheries science, environmental management, and rural development priorities.
History
NACA was founded in 1988 following discussions among member Asian Development Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization, and regional governments, building on precedents set by SEAFDEC and national institutes such as ICAR and CSIRO. Early initiatives linked to commitments from the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and the Montreal Process influenced NACA's initial programs, while partnerships with World Bank and ADB projects shaped expansion. In the 1990s NACA responded to crises related to pathogens documented by OIE and collaborated with FAO on regional codes of practice, later adapting to challenges highlighted at forums like the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Through the 2000s and 2010s NACA engaged with initiatives led by G77 delegations, ASEAN frameworks, and APEC fisheries dialogues to mainstream aquaculture into national development plans.
Mandate and Objectives
NACA's mandate emphasizes sustainable aquaculture intensification, environmental stewardship, and livelihood enhancement, aligning with targets set by Sustainable Development Goal 14 and related UNEP strategies. Objectives include supporting national policy formulation, enhancing disease surveillance linked to OIE standards, promoting best practices reflected in FAO guidelines, and facilitating access to innovations developed at institutions such as James Cook University and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology. NACA aims to bridge science from CSIRO, IKMP, and regional laboratories into actionable programs for members including India, China, Indonesia, Philippines, and Viet Nam.
Organizational Structure and Membership
NACA is governed by a Governing Council comprising representatives from member governments, modeled after intergovernmental boards like the International Whaling Commission and IFAD councils. The Secretariat, located in Bangkok, coordinates technical divisions that liaise with centres of excellence such as ICAR-CIFT, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, National Taiwan Ocean University, and University of the Philippines Diliman. Membership spans Asian and Pacific states including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific island members like Fiji and Samoa. Observers and partners include FAO, ADB, WorldFish, WWF, and Conservation International.
Programs and Activities
NACA implements programs addressing aquatic animal health, hatchery management, feed development, and sustainable farm practices, often in cooperation with FAO field offices, OIE reference laboratories, and academic partners such as University of Stirling and Cornell University. Activities include regional workshops modeled after RIFAN events, technical missions comparable to FAO/WHO joint assessments, and demonstration projects similar to IFAD rural livelihoods schemes. NACA coordinates disease emergency responses paralleling mechanisms used by WHO and supports certification schemes influenced by MSC and ASC standards.
Research, Capacity Building, and Technology Transfer
NACA facilitates applied research and capacity building through fellowships, training courses, and technical manuals drawing on expertise from CSIRO, IRRI, The WorldFish Center, and national laboratories like SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department. Technology transfer priorities include low-cost hatchery designs championed by FAO manuals, biosecurity protocols aligned with OIE manuals, and feed formulation research undertaken by universities such as University of Stirling and Kasetsart University. NACA's capacity programs target extension services in member states, supporting trainees from Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, and Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development.
Regional and International Partnerships
Partnerships extend to multilateral organizations including FAO, ADB, UNDP, and UNEP, and to research networks like WorldFish, ICLARM, and IRRI. NACA engages with regional bodies such as ASEAN, SPC, SAARC, and APEC to harmonize standards and foster trade linkages akin to dialogues at WTO committees. Collaborative projects have been co-financed by EU programs and philanthropic entities like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, linking to academic consortia at University of Stirling, James Cook University, and Massey University.
Impact, Challenges, and Criticism
NACA has contributed to improved hatchery outputs, reduced disease outbreak responses, and enhanced regional policy coherence, noted in case studies involving Bangladesh shrimp culture transformations and Thailand tilapia improvements. Critics cite uneven resource allocation among members similar to debates within FAO and challenge outcomes against benchmarks set by Sustainable Development Goal 14 and environmental NGOs like Greenpeace and WWF. Concerns raised include limited monitoring of ecological impacts consistent with critiques of intensification noted by IUCN and calls for greater transparency paralleling reforms at institutions such as World Bank and ADB. Ongoing discussions involve scaling participatory approaches seen in IFAD projects and integrating climate resilience measures promoted by UNFCCC.
Category:Intergovernmental organizations Category:Aquaculture