Management, production and utilization of small indigenous species “Zako” for nutritional improvement in rural areas and biodiversity conservation in inland Southeast Asia

Recent commercial aquaculture development in Southeast Asia has contributed to both economic growth and improvement of national food security. On the other hand, health problems, e.g., stunting in children younger than 5 years old and prevalence of anemia in women of reproductive age (15–49 years old), still remain unsolved particularly in rural inland areas. These symptoms are considered to be attributable to deficiencies in micronutrients and vitamins. In order to reduce the above health concerns, increase in intake of small fishes with high minerals and vitamins is strongly recommended. In addition to the nutritional improvement, small indigenous fishes are important components from the point of view of biodiversity conservation. However, because of the impact of introduced alien species and the aquacultural development of hybrid/alien fishes, there is increasing concern regarding the substantial risk of loss of regional biodiversity. This situation has led to the necessity for aquacultural development, stock assessment and multiplication of indigenous fish species. With the above background, management, production and utilization of small indigenous species “Zako” are important key issues for nutritional improvement and biodiversity conservation. In recent years, biological and aquaculture-related studies of several “Zako” species have progressed and technical improvements in their efficient/value-added utilization are also ongoing. However, considering the diversity of unexploited “Zako” species as well as a large number of residents under health risks due to micronutrient/vitamin deficiencies in Southeast Asia, further investigations of their biology, aquaculture and processing techniques contributory to management, production and utilization are required.