The foundation of quantitative genetics theory was developed during the
last century and facilitated many successful breeding programs for
cultivated plants and t- restrial livestock. The results have been
almost universally impressive, and today nearly all agricultural
production utilises genetically improved seed and animals. The
aquaculture industry can learn a great deal from these experiences,
because the basic theory behind selective breeding is the same for all
species. The ?rst published selection experiments in aquaculture started
in 1920 s to improve disease resistance in ?sh, but it was not before
the 1970 s that the ?rst family based breeding program was initiated for
Atlantic salmon in Norway by AKVAFORSK. Unfortunately, the subsequent
implementation of selective breeding on a wider scale in aquaculture has
been slow, and despite the dramatic gains that have been demonstrated in
a number of species, less than 10% of world aquaculture production is
currently based on improved stocks. For the long-term sustainability of
aquaculture production, there is an urgent need to develop and implement
e- cient breeding programs for all species under commercial production.
The ability for aquaculture to successfully meet the demands of an ever
increasing human p- ulation, will rely on genetically improved stocks
that utilise feed, water and land resources in an ef?cient way.
Technological advances like genome sequences of aquaculture species, and
advanced molecular methods means that there are new and exciting
prospects for building on these well-established methods into the
future.
