The author wishes to express his sincere gratitude to Dr. Soetatwo Hadiwigeno, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative of FAO, for giving him the opportunity to prepare this document to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission; and to Mr. Moritaka Hayashi, Assistant Director-General, FAO Fisheries Department, for his review, comments and support to this publication.
Special thanks are due to Dr. Veravat Hongskul, Senior Fishery Officer, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP), for his enthusiastic support for this undertaking and for his valuable advice which has led to the completion of this commemorative book. Thanks are also due to Ms. K. Aotarayakul and Ms. P. David of RAP for their kind assistance in the completion of this document. Last but not least, I thank Charlotte Menasveta, my wife, who did most of the editorial work on the document.
