Selective breeding is key to aquaculture improvement, enabling producers to enhance desirable traits across generations. While easily measurable phenotypes such as growth can be directly selected for, more complex traits like robustness or negative correlations among multiple traits present greater challenges. This talk explores the range of breeding program strategies available, from low-investment approaches such as mass selection to more advanced methods, including family-based and genomic selection. Emphasis is placed on how to choose an optimal strategy by balancing resources, breeding objectives, and expected genetic and economic returns.
Both phenotypic and genotypic data are essential in driving genetic gain, as is the alignment of program complexity with operational feasibility. This talk also explores the integration of emerging technologies such as genome editing, which enables precise, targeted improvements within a single generation and complements conventional selective breeding to accelerate progress while maintaining long-term genetic stability.
This presentation evaluates breeding program options while accounting for investment, genetic potential, and commercial goals. By understanding both conventional and emerging tools, aquaculture producers can design breeding strategies that build a solid foundation of husbandry practices, deliver sustainable improvements, and maximize returns on investment for future industry growth.