Research a GIFT for tilapia farmers
NEW research to create a more resilient strain of tilapia was launched by WorldFish in Scotland, just before the World Aquaculture Society conference in Cape Town.
World experts gathered at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh for a two-day workshop organised by WorldFish to help shape the future of tilapia selective breeding and genetic improvement.
The non-profit research organisation will now embark on a programme using advanced techniques such as genomic selection to introduce favourable characteristics - including disease resistance and more effective feed utilisation - into its improved tilapia strains.
Since 1988, WorldFish has used selective breeding to develop and manage the fast growing Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) strain.
The strain has been disseminated to at least 16 countries, mostly in the developing world, and is grown by millions of small-scale fish farmers for food, income and nutrition across the world.
Tools that enable the selection of animals based on genetic markers will allow selection for characteristics that are otherwise difficult to measure - for example, resilience and feed efficiency. Genomic selection has enabled a step change in the rate of genetic improvement of terrestrial livestock and has the potential to do the same in farmed fish.
John Benzie, programme leader, Sustainable Aquaculture, WorldFish said: ‘Incorporating new genetic traits in GIFT will help fish farmers prepare for future challenges such as climate change and increasing evidence of disease risks.
‘This will particularly benefit farmers in Africa and Asia, where tilapia is critical for food security yet farmers often have limited access to improved fish breeds suited to local conditions.’
Ross Houston, group leader at the Roslin Institute, said: ‘Aquaculture production needs to increase by 40 per cent by 2030 to meet global demands for fish.
‘Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is arguably the world’s most important food fish, and plays a key role in tackling rural poverty in developing countries.
‘The innovations in genetic improvement mapped out in this workshop are an important step toward achieving these ambitious goals.’