With financial support from Asian Development Bank, a carp genetic research project initiative was set up in 1995 assist the six major carp producing countries (Bangladesh, People's Republic of China, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam) to increase food fish production and to improve the nutrition and income of small-scale fish farmers by developing genetically improved carp breeds with sustainable productivity. Specifically, the project will establish research priorities for carp species, farming systems, and breeding strategies, and will conduct strategic research and training activities on the basis of these priorities. To spin-off the activities of the Project, ICLARM organized a planning workshop at the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar, India during 26-29 July 1997, attended by representatives and scientists of the six-participating countries and of ICLARM. The specific objectives of the planning workshop were: to review existing information on carp species; to discuss and unify research methodologies of the Project and to finalize workplans and implementation schedules of the six-participating countries.