Enhancing fish performance in Aquaculture

Authors: SMALL, BRIAN - University Of Idaho; HARDY, RONALD - University Of Idaho; Tucker, Craig

Submitted to: Animal Frontiers
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/3/2016
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Aquaculture currently is the fastest growing agricultural industry and must continue to grow to meet the world’s increasing demand for seafood. Continued growth will depend upon advances in fish genetics and nutrition, and improvements in culture system design and management. The number and complexity of cultured fish species makes for a diverse and complex industry in which the requirements for optimal production performance are constantly being defined and redefined. The unique genetic and phenotypic plasticity of fish has been capitalized upon to yield rapid gains in aquaculture production. Knowledge of dietary requirements for major aquaculture species, and factors affecting those requirements, has allowed rational feed formulation to optimize fish performance. Productivity from commonly used aquaculture systems varies over three orders of magnitude, but the common goal of culture system management is to provide an environment where the performance potential afforded by genotype and nutrition can be optimized. Achieving this goal is difficult in practice because economic factors may force compromises between costs of production and costs associated with maintaining an optimum environment. This paper summarizes recent advance in genetics, breeding, nutrition, and culture system development and management that will allow aquaculture to intensify production and meet the demand for seafood created by rapid human population growth

Technical Abstract: Aquaculture currently is the fastest growing agricultural industry and must continue to grow to meet the world’s increasing demand for seafood. Continued growth will depend upon advances in fish genetics and nutrition, and improvements in culture system design and management. The number and complexity of cultured fish species makes for a diverse and complex industry in which the requirements for optimal production performance are constantly being defined and redefined. The unique genetic and phenotypic plasticity of fish has been capitalized upon to yield rapid gains in aquaculture production. Knowledge of dietary requirements for major aquaculture species, and factors affecting those requirements, has allowed rational feed formulation to optimize fish performance. Productivity from commonly used aquaculture systems varies over three orders of magnitude, but the common goal of culture system management is to provide an environment where the performance potential afforded by genotype and nutrition can be optimized. Achieving this goal is difficult in practice because economic factors may force compromises between costs of production and costs associated with maintaining an optimum environment. This paper summarizes recent advance in genetics, breeding, nutrition, and culture system development and management that will allow aquaculture to intensify production and meet the demand for seafood created by rapid human population growth.