This report deals with the period July to October 1977 during which time inspections of the prawn farming industries of Japan, the Philippines and Thailand were made. A total of ten weeks was spent in Japan with shorter periods in the Philippines and Thailand.

Japan not only has the most successful prawn farming industry in the world but its aquaculture research in general is also the most advanced and diverse. Thus it was possible to inspect facilities used for the culture of many species and a brief section dealing with the aquaculture of some of these other species is included, along with observations from the other two countries visited.

The bulk of the report deals with Japanese aquaculture and the aim has been to provide considerable detail but  mostly as a supplement to existing works published in English. Much less published information is available for the aquaculture industries of the Philippines and Thailand and thus the sections relating to these countries are written in as much detail as possible. Some understanding of the larval development of penaeid prawns and portunid crabs is assumed in some sections of this report but not in the general summary (Section 10) which also includes recommendations relevant to the Australian situation.