Several technical assistance projects in aquaculture are operational in some of the countries participating in the South China Sea Programme. A major concern of the project is to provide coordination and cooperation of existing and future projects.
Through UNDP funding FAO is now rendering technical assistance in the area. The FAO Regional Office in Bangkok is providing regional advisory services in fish culture. A Special Fund project on milkfish and shrimp culture is engaged in applied research and training in Jepara, Indonesia. A Technical Assistance project in inland biology is operating in the Philippines, and another in fish culture development in Khmer.
The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) has recently approved the creation of an Aquaculture Department, with headquarters in Iloilo, Philippines. It will give assistance to aquaculture projects, particularly shrimp culture. The countries participating in this Center are Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The United States Agency of International Development (USAID) has been rendering assistance to inland fishery biology in the Philippines since 1971. Assistance is confined largely to research and training in fresh and brackishwater fish culture. The project terminates in early 1974. USAID has also been extending assistance to Vietnam, and it is reported that this project will be reactivated soon.
Khmer has had a promise from Taiwan for a project in inland fisheries and aquaculture, to be implemented as soon as feasible.
In Thailand, Japan is providing expert services and facilities for research and development of Penasus culture.
| Title of project | Recipient country | Sponsoring agency or country | Remarks |
| 1. Advisory services in regional fish culture | Regional | FAO/UNDP | Commenced 1 July 1973; subject to yearly renewal |
| 2. Milkfish and shrimp culture; applied research and training | Indonesia | FAO/UNDP | Operational and moving to second phase |
| 3. Inland fishery biology | Philippines | FAO/UNDP | Continuing to end of 1974 |
| 4. Fish culture development | Khmer | FAO/UNDP | Operational as soon as expert is available |
| 5. Aquaculture Department, SouTDeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) | Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, TDailand, and Vietnam | SEAFDEC | Expected to commence early 1974 |
| 6. Inland fishery biology project | Philippines | USAID | Commenced 1971; terminates early 1974 |
| 7. Inland fisheries development | Vietnam | USAID | Intermittent; said to be reactivated soon |
| 8. Shrimp culture | Thailand | Japan | Current; termination subject to bilateral agreement |
