The Aquaculture Department of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC AQD) has been implementing the “Regional Fish Disease Project under the auspices of the Government of Japan Trust Fund (GOJ-TF) since year 2000.  The “Development of Fish Diseases Diagnostic Inspection Methodologies for Artificially-bred Seeds” was the main thrust of Phase I of the project that covered research, hands-on training and annual project meetings (http://rfdp.seafdec.org.ph). In addition, the project conducted a seminar/workshop in collaboration with the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) on “Disease Control in Fish and Shrimp Aquaculture in Southeast Asia – Diagnosis and Husbandry Techniques” held in Iloilo City, Philippines, on 4-6 December 2001 as well as the “Meeting on the Current Status of the Transboundary Fish Diseases in Southeast Asia: Occurrence, Surveillance, Research and Training” held in Manila, Philippines on 23-24 June 2004.

       Similarly, for its Phase II activities since 2004, the project focused on “Development of Fish Disease Surveillance System” that, likewise, continues to pursue research, on-site hands-on training programs and annual project meetings. For the workshop component, this “SEAFDEC International Workshop on Emerging Fish Diseases in Asia” is being organized with the following objectives:

     1. To update on emerging fish and shellfish microbial diseases in Southeast
            and East Asia;

     2. To keep abreast on advances in the pathogenesis, diagnosis,   
            epidemiology and surveillance of emerging microbial diseases of said
            aquatic animals; and

    3. To identify study gaps for future research thrusts for the GOJ-TF Fish
            Disease Project.

      In order to achieve these foregoing objectives, the scientific program of this two-day workshop will include 7 invited plenary speakers, at least 12 oral presentations and discussions in workshops. Poster submission is highly encouraged. To guarantee maximum viewing and discussion, posters will be displayed throughout the meeting at a location that provides maximum exposure for discussion. Publication of the proceedings of this seminar/workshop will be pursued.

     Hence, submission of abstracts is welcome on various aspects of fish, shrimp, prawn, crab and mollusk diseases, particularly focusing on emerging microbial pathogens, detection, diagnosis, pathogenesis, epidemiology, immunology/disease resistance, therapeutants, antimicrobials, probiotics, risk analysis, biosecurity and related topics.