The growing demand for fish globally underscores the necessity for advancements in aquaculture, where genetics plays a pivotal role. This study investigates how aquaculture genetics can enhance growth rates, disease resistance, and the productivity of key fish species. Genetic improvement programs, including genomic selection, marker-assisted selection, and selective breeding, are essential for accelerating these developments. By leveraging the genetic diversity present in fish populations, these programs aim to promote desirable traits, thereby enhancing the overall quality of fish stocks. Selective breeding, a cornerstore of genetic enhancement, has demonstrated significant potential in increasing growth rates and feed efficiency. Marker-assisted selection enhances this process by identifying specific genetic markers associated with beneficial traits, thus expediting the breeding cycle. At the forefront of these approaches is genomic selection, which utilizes genome-wide data to identify and select individuals with superior genetic potential, yielding unprecedented precision in breeding outcomes. Furthermore, genetic techniques are vital for improving disease resistance in aquaculture. By identifying and disseminating immunity-related alleles, the industry can mitigate the impacts of prevalent diseases, ensuring sustainable fish production. Advances in CRISPR-Cas9 and other gene-editing technologies may further accelerate the development of robust fish strains through targeted genetic modifications. These genetic strategies not only increase production but also promote sustainability by reducing the environmental impact of fish farming and reliance on wild fish populations. This research underscores the necessity of integrating cutting-edge genetic technologies with traditional breeding methods, positioning aquaculture genetics as the foundation for the future of sustainable fish farming.
Enquiries about data availability should be directed to the authors.
No conflict of interest in the paper
Murwanashyaka Michel: Writing original draft, writing review & editing. Lihua Jiang: Supervision, writing review & editing. Xiaojun Yan: Supervision, funding acquisition.
This work is supported by the Aquaculture Breeding and Seedling Technology Innovation Center Project of Zhoushan (2025Y001-1), National Key Research and Development Program of China Grants (2023YFD2401900), National Key Research and Development Program of China (2023YFD2401905)
This is to thank Kibogora Polytechnic University, Department of Sciences, PO. BOX 50 Nyamasheke, Rwanda, with its partnership with the National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities Aquaculture, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316022, China.
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