Surrogate broodstock technology in aquaculture: current applications and future prospects

Surrogate broodstock development offers a practical route to reproduce species that resist captive breeding, shorten generation time, and conserve valuable genetic resources. We review current methods for isolation and enrichment of primordial germ cells and gonial cells, recipient sterilization options, transplantation routes and stages, cryopreservation practices, and the role of genome editing to create optimized hosts. Evidence from salmonids, cyprinids, and marine teleosts shows that donor germ cells retain genetic identity while the recipient gonadal environment determines gamete type, but recipient germline status, donor cell dose, and phylogenetic distance jointly set the proportion of donor-derived progeny. Sterile recipients such as triploids or dead-end knockouts produce near-exclusive donor output, whereas fertile recipients yield mixed cohorts unless donor dominance is enforced by high cell dose or host ablation. Practical applications span restoration of endangered stocks, rapid dissemination of elite germplasm, reduced broodstock cost, and accelerated trait validation through edited germline cells. Remaining challenges include variable colonization efficiency in distant xenotransplants, cryo viability for oogonia, regulatory and ethical constraints, and the need for routine parentage verification and welfare safeguards. We conclude with recommended best practice elements for applied programs and priorities for research to broaden species coverage, improve efficiency, and ensure responsible deployment of surrogate broodstock for conservation and commercial aquaculture.