BREEDING AND GENETICS SYMPOSIUM: Climate change and selective breeding in aquaculture

Area of Science:

• Aquaculture and Climate Change Adaptation
• Aquatic Animal Breeding
• Food Security

Background:

• Aquaculture is vital for global food security, but climate change poses significant threats.
• Climate change impacts include warming, sea-level rise, altered ocean productivity, and extreme weather events.
• Aquaculture faces challenges from suboptimal fish adaptation to changing conditions and increased disease outbreaks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify adaptive strategies for aquaculture in the face of climate change.
• To highlight the importance of fish robustness and breeding programs.
• To address the environmental impact of aquaculture on climate change.

Main Methods:

• Review of climate change impacts on aquaculture.
• Identification of adaptive strategies based on scientific literature.
• Analysis of the role of selective breeding in aquaculture resilience.

Main Results:

• Climate change necessitates the development of 'robust' fish traits for disease resistance and temperature tolerance.
• Improving feed efficiency and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions are key to reducing aquaculture's climate footprint.
• Limited adoption of breeding programs leads to resource inefficiency and higher carbon footprints.

Conclusions:

• Selective breeding programs are essential for producing robust, genetically improved aquaculture organisms.
• Incentives are needed to promote well-managed breeding programs with inbreeding control.
• Aquaculture must prioritize genetically improved, robust fish to ensure sustainable food production under climate change.