Welcome to Aqua-Centre!

Aqua-centre is a specialized unit under the School of Environment, Resources and Developemnt (SERD) within the Asian Institite of Technogy (AIT) which is an international institute of higher learning. It is Asia’s pioneer institution established in 1959 to help meet the region’s growing needs for advanced learning in engineering, science, technology and management, research and capacity building. AIT’s mission is to develop highly qualified and committed professionals who will play a leading role in the sustainable development of Asia and its integration into the global economy. AIT is based in Thailand and has affiliated centers in other parts of the world.

Aqua-Centre was established in 2014 to disseminate the knowledge and help develop skills on proven innovative aquaculture technologies to interested investors and entrepreneurs so that their dreams of establishing fish farm, generating revenues and serving the people and their communities come true.

Goal: to contribute towards sustainable development of aquaculture by helping communities to produce more fish or aquatic food for food and nutritional security, and improve livelihoods through creating employment and generating better income.

Vision: Aqua-Centre strives to remain as the lead centre of excellence in providing services to aquaculture industry in Asia and also globally.

Mission: to develop highly skilled human resource required for developing, disseminating and applying practical and innovative technologies for the continuous growth of sustainable aquaculture.

Aqua-Centre promotes innovative aquaculture practices aiming at increasing systems’ productivity and profitability. More importantly, it facilitates transformation of traditional subsistence farming to commercial and corporate farming to take aquaculture to a higher level for the benefits of larger communities, and also for countries to generate income, create employment, and help earn foreign currency.

So far, we have trained and provided services to thousands of senior government and non-government officers and senior executives of private sector. Some of them have started their own businesses, while others manage large corporate or government farms successfully and profitably applying the scientific knowledge and business management skills.

Globally 85 million mt of seafood is produced annually from aquaculture and 95 million mt tons from capture fisheries. More and more people consuming seafood due its health benefits. Seafood has to be doubled by 2050 to the growing demand. After “Green and White Revolutions”, ‘Blue Revolution” is the need of the present which is possible only when thousands of new generation leaders are produced, who ultimately will train millions of other people learn how to breed and grow fish or aquatic animals sustainably applying scientific principles and adopting as profitable businesses. As a result, every country should be able to take advantage of the sector like that of China, Thailand, Vietnam and others.

From seafood export, annually China earns nearly US$20 billion, while Norway generates about US$10  billion from salmon alone. India, Thailand and Vietnam each earn US$6-7 billion per year from seafood export. Exporting only shrimp annually Thailand used ot earn about US$2-3 billion. Similarly, Vietnam earns nearly US$2 billion from Pangasius alone.

Major importers are US, EU, Japan and other developed countries. Over 90% of the seafood consumed in the US is imported. Same way, European countries, Japan and manhy African countries spend quite a lot in importing seafood. Shrimp, Salmon, Tilapia and Pangasius are major species which are highly traded across the country boarders.

At present, COVID19 is affecting the seafood trade and overall seafood and nutrition security of the people. Nothing is certain and predictable what will happen about the seafood industry and others all over the world. Everyone is waiting anxiously and hoping for the good! Confusion might be there. It is believed that the virus came from the Wuhan seafood market, but not from fish or aquatic animals. It was most likely originated from bats or other terrestrial animals.

Listen to our voice about COVID19 and seafood connection (video clip)

In our webpages you will find a list of several interesting information about the training programs, community development projects, our recent activities, testimonies of past trainings and many others. Interested persons can apply online for professional master's degree program, training, study tours, internship and others. If anyone has any inquiry, please feel free to contact us.

Thank you

Dr Ram C. Bhujel
Director, Aqua-Centre
School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD)
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)
Email: director@aqua-centre.org or Bhujel@ait.asia
Tel. + 662 524 5222 (O)
     + 6681 7346934 (M)

Skype: ram.bhujel