The culture of tilapias is an important industry in most aquaculture producing countries in theworld. Due to the many favorable attributes of this species of fish, including tolerance to wide range ofenvironmental conditions and fast growth rates, interest in its culture is increasing at a rapid pace. Therehave been research initiatives on breeding, genetic improvement and stock manipulation in order toincrease the resistance of this fish to high salinity levels, enabling them to thrive in brackishwater andalmost seawater conditions. Saline-tolerant tilapias have been co-cultured with shrimp in brackishwaterponds as it was believed that tilapias are able to inhibit the occurrence of luminous vibriosis in ponds.This paper describes the selective breeding program that we developed in order to produce high-salinetolerant tilapias by using locally available strains.

Tilapia --- Oreochromis sp. --- saline-tolerant --- breeding

Partial sequence of the dnaJ gene of Vibrio harveyi, which was isolated from diseased juvenileAsian seabass, Lates calcarifer was identified. The partial sequence of dnaJ gene of V. harveyi was 447 bp and shared at least 77% identity at the nucleotide level with the dnaJ gene of other Vibrios. It was distinct from the dnaJ gene of other Vibrios but was closely related with the dnaJ gene of V. rotiferianus and V. campbellii having at least 90% nucleotide identity. PCR primers targeting this gene were designed to detect the pathogen in Asian seabass. The assay was specific to V. harveyi and the limit of detection was 100 pg of genomic DNA ml^-1 or 100 fg of bacterial genomic DNA in a PCR reaction. Thiscorresponded to a sensitivity of approximately 20 genome equivalents (GE) of V. harveyi. These resultsindicate that the dnaJ gene is a good candidate to develop primers for the PCR assay in detecting V.harveyi in fish.

Vibrio harveyi --- dnaJ gene --- Lates calcarifer --- PCR

This study was done to evaluate growth and survival rate of Maharloo lake artemia (ArtemiaParthenogenetica) (Bowen & Sterling, 1978) which feed with two species of microalgae (IsochrysisGalbana and Chlorella vulgaris) and bakery yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) with different nutritiousingredients for 15 days. We evaluated them in 3^rd, 7^{th, 11th and 15thdays of cultivation period for 4 times. This experiment was done in completely randomized design with 4 treatments (3 treatments and 1 control) and each treatment has 3 replicates. Artemia parthenogenetica nauplii were feed with three different types of food that includes Isochrysis galbana microalgae (T1), Chlorella vulgaris (T2) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast (T4). Control had feed with blend of these three matters. After 15 days the highest survival rate was observed in control (84.00) and the lowest one was related to the T4 (59.58) which feed with Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast (p<0.05). The highest growth rate was observed in T4, T3, followed by T1 and T2 respectively. Achievement results showed significantdifferences between control and other treatments (p<0.05). This study proved that treatments whichfeed with blend of two micro algae's species and bakery yeast have higher survival ability than theother treatments.}

Artemia parthenogenetica --- Chlorella vulgaris --- Isochrysis galbana --- Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Great losses caused by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in shrimp culture have beenattributed to poor screening procedures in farms and the lack of sufficient access to specific pathogenfree brood stock. Thus, early detection of the virus is considered the best option for shrimp farmers. Thestudy, thus, assessed viral incidence in the Philippines and partially sequenced and characterized thePhilippine WSSV isolate with regards to other isolates in GenBank. Developed primers for PCR can detecttarget genes from 0.4 pg of DNA extract from shrimp samples. PCR detection revealed that 6.67 %(1/15) of market samples from Zambales are infected with WSSV. Shrimp samples from a local shop anda public market in General Santos City showed 46.67% (7/15) and 20% (3/15) WSSV-positive samplesrespectively. Shrimp sources from Capiz and Batangas, however, showed negative detection for WSV. Nosignificant difference in the number of infected samples from the sampling sites was found. Combineddetections reveal that the Philippines has a low infection rate of 14.67%. The study has partiallysequenced and characterized Philippine isolate. During the sampling period, most shrimps in GeneralSantos City were WSSV-positive by PCR detection.

WSV --- Philippines --- shrimp --- Litopenaeus vannamei

Bester sturgeon is considered a hybrid (cross between beluga Huso huso (Linnaeus, 1758)female and sterlet Acipenser ruthenus Linnaeus, 1758 male) with great potential for intensiveaquaculture technology due to its quality caviar and meat production. Apart from Russia, firstpromising experiments on sturgeon culture have been carried out in several European countries(Germany, Hungary, France) and Japan as well as the U.S.A. Yet, in the field of bester sturgeonnutrition many authors consider that further investigation is desirable. In this context, the presentexperiment has as main goal the evaluation of bester capability for nutrients utilization and feedconversion under different feeding rates and environmental conditions. The trails were conducted in anexperimental recirculating system and an aquaponic system in different development stages. For bothexperiments “Troco supreme” fodder with 46% protein content was used. The feeding efficiency wasassessed through technological indicators. The fish condition (allometric factor) and growthperformance was assessed for both rearing systems: standard RAS and aquaponic RAS.

hybrid bester --- recirculating aquaculture --- intensive rearing --- aquaponics

The taxonomy of leiognathid species has changed drastically as a result of revisions carriedout in recent years. During the same period, new species have also been described. In this study, ataxonomic review and update of leiognathid species present in Malaysian waters was carried out.Leiognathid specimens were collected from the coastal waters of Peninsular Malaysia. All specimens wereexamined for their internal and external morphological features and osteological features. Theleiognathids of Malaysia reviewed here comprised at least 22 species. Malaysia thus has one of therichest assemblages of leiognathid species in the world. Equulites laterofenestra (Sparks & Chakrabarty,2007), Leiognathus robustus Sparks & Dunlap, 2004, and Nuchequula mannusella Chakrabarty & Sparks,2007 are new records in Malaysian waters. Some previously described species from Malaysia wereerroneously identified. These include specimens misidentified as Equulites rivulatus (Temminck &Schlegel, 1845), Gazza achlamys Jordan & Starck, 1917, and Nuchequula nuchalis (Temminck &Schlegel, 1845). E. rivulatus and G. achlamys have been recorded in the Western Pacific but thesespecies have not been encountered in Malaysia or in collections held in Malaysia.

Leiognathidae --- taxonomy --- new record --- ponyfishes --- dubious taxa --- Malaysian waters