Fish and fishery products make an enormous contribution to the nutrition and wellbeing of the peoples of Asia and the Pacific region, possibly exceeding their contribution in any other region of the world. The quantities produced and the sheer diversity of species and products from inland and marine waters that exist in the region is clear testimony to a deep-rooted tradition of fish consumption and its importance in the diet and culture of the peoples of Asia. The APFIC biennial Regional overview of fisheries and aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific 2012 is intended to provide a resource book comprising a summary of regional information on fisheries and aquaculture. The capture fisheries review is divided into three sub regions, the South China Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Sulu-Sulawesi and Timor-Arafura Seas sub region. The aquaculture section of the overview covers different commodity groupings across the region.