Considerations about dissemination of improved fish strains for aquaculture

Considerations about dissemination of improved fish strains for aquaculture

Ponzoni, R.W., N.H. Nguyen, H.L. Khaw, C.E. Lind & B.M. Rodriguez Jr

Presented at:Aqua Aquaria 2013, Vijayawada, INDIA, 8-10 February, 2013

overview

Current status and general approach to genetic improvement

Effective dissemination of genetic gains

Technical considerations

Institutional arrangements and partnerships

Concluding remarks

A few remarks about cultured aquatic animals

• Most production from aquatic animals is based on unimproved stock, or has undergone only limited genetic improvement (this is particularly so in developing countries)

• So, in the rare instances that we have an improved strain, we have to make sure it reaches the farmers

• Multiplication and dissemination of improved stock are a challenge because:– We have little experience (few

improved strains)– They entail influencing people

Design and implementation of a genetic improvement program

• Describe the production system(s)

• Choose the species, strains and breeding system

• Formulate the breeding objective

• Develop selection criteria• Design system of genetic

evaluation• Select animals and mating

system• Monitor and compare

alternative programs• Design system for expansion

Effective dissemination

?

Effective dissemination

Genetic improvement takes place in a very small fraction of the overall population

effective multiplication of genetic gains is

critical



criticalmost often, breeding centers

don’t existEffective dissemination



criticalmost often, breeding centers

don’t exist

hatcheries attempt their own breeding

often leads to problems

inbred, genetically vulnerable stocks

basic elements in multiplication and dissemination

brood stock replaced

periodically (2-3 years) producing brood

stock not required

specialized facilities not

needed

basic elements in multiplication and dissemination

general aspects to be addressed1. total demand for seed and its

geographical distribution2. presence or absence of private

and govt. hatcheries3. skill level and access to

resources of hatcheries4. farmers’ need for additional

training, education and technical support

centralized model

single operation conducts breeding and

multiplication

‘centralized’ in terms of geographic location or control

over germplasm

deals directly with

farmers

may require significant resources for infrastructure

decentralized model

generally easier to implement but will

forego some control

investment risk is shared

better geographical

coverage, accessible to more

farmers

technical consideratio

ns

problem in aquaculture is...

high reproductive rate

(a good thing too!)large populations from a few breedersrapid inbreeding, poor

productivity

low effective population size (Ne)

difficult to maintain pedigree

how to manage industry-wide?

inbreeding can be managed through proper hatchery

practices and training

…and a developed industry structure

production level diversity not

critical if maintained in

nucleus

generally not present


ns

rotational mating schemes to avoid

inbreeding

inbreeding can be managed through proper hatchery

practices and training


ns


Doing so can benefit the industry as a whole, through better access to genetic gains made in nucleusProblem is sociological and economic, much more than genetic

Convincing hatcheries that they need not produce brood stock replacements not easy, requires change in perception


Both private and government hatcheries should be considered in effective dissemination strategyPrivate:- established production areas- attractive investment

opportunitiesGovernment:- areas insufficiently served by

private hatcheries- areas where lack of

competition may result in abuse of market

- stimulate industry in regions with future production potential

- eventually role taken over by private sector

Structuring multiplier-nucleus arrangements

Hatchery access to the nucleus could take on various forms- Open access; no

agreements, open to all

- Accreditation; specific criteria established

- Restricted access; criteria established, sole discretion of the nucleus

Nucleus-multiplier agreements could also have many variations- Joint ventures- Licensing (e.g. fees)- Contracted production- Combinations of the

above

• Terms of the agreement– Financial– Operational (brood stock

replacement)

• Training and education of hatchery managers

• Brand name for marketing• Product standards

- Fingerling size and survival- Transport and count accounting- Management of inbreeding- Breeders’ age (lag)- Lag and options for refreshing

• Controlling ‘genetic piracy’

Creation of a network of accredited hatcheries

Branding

most (all?) aquaculture seed is distributed without verification of strain or origin

NONE OF THIS

Branding

branded fish seed would likely capture attention of farmers

positive experiences, testimonies can help add value to a brand, increase willingness to pay

like with all brands, novelty wears out quickly if product not satisfactory

most (all?) aquaculture seed is distributed without verification of strain or origin

MORE LIKE THIS

Concluding remarks

genetic improvement

current technology enables sustained gains of at least 10 per cent per generation

attention to design of genetic improvement

program essential

national breeding programs can have very favourable

cost-to-benefit ratios

Concluding remarks

effective dissemination of gain

high reproductive rate of fish offers great

opportunities in terms of multiplying genetic gains

an area where often we have not been as

successful as in achieving and demonstrating genetic

gains

creation of a formal structure at multiplication or hatchery level, complemented by training and education programs, appears

essential

Concluding remarks

effective dissemination of gain

experience shows that effective dissemination will

not occur ‘naturally’, spontaneously

means trained people with means to influence

producers, and to feed back information to the Breeding

Center

It will happen infrequently unless resources are specifically

allocated to this activity

Concluding remarks

Improved fish have no impact unless they reach

the farmerseasier to achieve genetic improvement than to be

successful at dissemination

dissemination is difficult because it involves influencing and changing the

way people do things

only through effective dissemination can we expect a positive impact on farmers

Thank you

photo credits:1. Hooi Ling Khaw2. Flickr/US Fish & Wildlife

Service 3. Flickr/Guy Mason4-5. Roger Smith6 . top: Hooi Ling Khaw

bottom: Flickr/Sukil7. top: Hooi Ling Khaw

bottom: Curtis Lind11. Curtis Lind12. Flickr/ WorldFish Center15. anon17. Flickr/wokerjabby20. Flickr/ Hapal23. Flickr/Patrick Dugan24. danmeth.com25. Flickr/ linuts

thanks to:Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Govt. India, for supporting speaker’s participation at Aqua Aquaria 2013

full manuscript:Ponzoni, R.W. ; Nguyen, N.H. ; Khaw, H.L. ; Rodriguez, B.M. Jr.(2012) Considerations about effective dissemination of improved fish strains. WorldFish, Penang, Malaysia. Working Paper: 2012-47http://www.worldfishcenter.org/resources/publications/considerations-about-dissemination-improved-fish-strains

Acknowledgements

Considerations about dissemination of improved fish strains for aquaculture

Investor Relations

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