NACA started as a regional project of FAO/UNDP with the title, ¿Establishment of the Network of
Aquaculture Centres in Asia¿. It had 11 participating governments1. The project began field operations
in August 1980, went through three phases, and terminated in December 1989. It was transformed
into an autonomous regional organization owned and operated by its member governments on 12
January 1990 when five governments ratified the NACA Agreement. The Agreement was adopted at
a Plenipotentiary Meeting convened by FAO in Bangkok in January 1988. Its present membership is
now 14 governments.
The objective of NACA was to promote expansion of regional aquaculture development to increase
food production, improve rural income, and employment, diversify farm production, and increase
foreign exchange earnings and savings.