Fishery resources are significantly depleted worldwide due to overfishing. Aquaculture, which is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants, highly contributes to global fish supply. However, more ecologically sustainable management practices are needed. Fisheries and Aquaculture Journal would like to share new knowledge on emerging fields such as the biology, physiology, pathology and genetics of cultured organisms, especially new species, as well as on aqua cultural operations, i.e., nutrition, feeding and stocking practices, with the aim to improve the health and growth rates of cultured species. The second issue of volume 7 presents interesting articles related to these topics.

The development of an integrated plan for sustainable management of fisheries resources is a priority. In this issue, Modou Thiaw, et al. assessed the status of fisheries resources of Lake Iro, Chad, which can serve as a model fisheries management regime in Central Africa. After characterization of the exploited ichthyofauna and the location of nursery and fishing areas, results indicated the negative effects of fishing pressure on size structure of the fish resources. Therefore, in order to promote sustainable and equitable exploitation of Lake Iro resources, authors suggest the implement of a protected area at the lake inlet to limit excessive juvenile fish catches, which disturbs the aquatic food chain and prevents juvenile fish supply and growth. A similar situation was reported in Turag River, Bangladesh, where Naser Ahmed Bhouiyan, et al. after performing an inventory survey of ichyofaunal diversity, fishing gear and craft, concluded that the contribution of fisheries resources in Turag River is very limited for livelihood of the surrounding people. The livelihood status of fishermen at Noahkali districts in Bangladesh was also evaluated by Jahangir Sarker Md, et al. which concluded that a subsidy as a means of nets, boats, fuels, engines etc., might be recommended for the better livelihood of the fishermen. Interestingly, in this issue it is also showed an in-season forecast model of return of chum salmon for the population off the Honshu region in the Sea of Japan developed by Kyuji Watanabe, using the smoothing spline based on previous catch data.

In regard to the health and growth rates of cultured species, Jianpeng Peng, et al. explored the biological action of somatolactin (SL), the member of the growth hormone (GH)/prolactin (PRL) family and fish-specific pituitary hormone, in tilapia hepatocytes, and demonstrated for the first time that SL may serve as a novel regulator in fish stimulating IGF1 and IGF gene expression. Also, with the purpose of ameliorating the growth of abalone, from the study of Magdalena Latuihamallo, et al. resulted that the natural food Ulva fasciata provides better results on abalone growth due to the nutrients contained in it, particularly the higher value of amino acids and fatty acids compared to natural food Gracilaria lichenoides.

Another relevant topic in aquaculture is that relative to infections and diseases of cultured species. In this issue, the results of a study conducted by Sven M Bergmann, et al. on the Koi herpesvirus (KHV) as a model member of the Alloherpesviridae, and rainbow trout as a model salmonid host, infected with KHV, were reported. Finally, Tombi Jeannette, et al. documented the model of occupation of the transversal gradient of gill system of Oreochromis niloticus collected at Melen Fish Station (Yaounde, Cameroon) by four Monogeneans species, and provided explanations for the different patterns observed.