This issue of Asian Aquaculture attempts to provide a general view of the status, prospects, and requirements of aquaculture in the Third World. The main article on page 1 gives a scenario of aquaculture as an industry and as a research and development concern in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. R & D Notes spotlights on selected countries from each of these three regions, namely, India, China, Nigeria, and Brazil. In the case of China, focus is on her lake and reservoir fishery systems.

The reports were based on the following FAO documents: Aquaculture Planning in Asia, Dec. 1975; Aquaculture Planning in Africa, July 1975; Supplement 1 to the Symposium on Aquaculture in Africa, Oct. 1975; Aquaculture Planning in Latin America, December 1975; and Freshwater Fisheries Aquaculture in China, June 1977. The article on freshwater aquaculture research in India was contributed by Dr. Hiralal Chaudhuri, regional aquaculture coordinator of the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department. Dr. Chaudhuri served CIFRI, India for 28 years and was head of the Institute's Aquaculture Division and administrative Head of the station at Cuttack before joining SEAFDEC in 1976.