WORLDFISH'S NILE TILAPIA (Oreochromis niloticus) BREEDING PROGRAMS  

Aquaculture is one of the fast growing industries in the world. According to FAO statistic, during the past decade, aquaculture has increased its global food fish production from 47.3 million tonnes in 2006 to 76.6 million tonnes in 2015. In 2015, out of the 76.6 million tonnes of aquaculture food fish production, 5.7 million tonnes is accounted by tilapia production. From the total global tilapia production, 68% is from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

WorldFish is an international, nonprofit research organization that harnesses the potential of fisheries and aquaculture for reduce poverty and hunger. One of the approaches that WorldFish took to ensure food security is through enhancing production traits of aquatic animal species by genetic means. Currently, WorldFish has two Nile tilapia breeding programs, one located in Malaysia and another one in Egypt. The one in Malaysia is the well-known GIFT (Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia) strain, which is hardy and faster-growing improved strain developed in 1980s. GIFT has a very strong and diverse base, where the founder were from four different wild stocks in Africa and four different domesticated stocks in Asia. Since GIFT is transferred to WorldFish Malaysia in 2000 to 2001, WorldFish continue the selection on growth for harvest weight and the population has currently went through 16 generations of selection. The genetic gain is about 5-6% per generation.  Since the completion of GIFT project in Philippines, it has been disseminated to more than 10 different countries in Asia and South America. The demand for the strain and the satisfaction expressed by those that receive it from WorldFish attest to its genetic merit.

The Egypt Nile tilapia breeding program (named as Abbassa strain) manages by WorldFish is setup based on GIFT technology. The founder population of this breeding program were formed by 4x4 diallel cross of three different wild populations and one hatchery population in Egypt. The program started in 2002 and currently has went through 13 generations of selection.  The average genetic gain is about 2% per generation. The improved strain, so far, has only disseminated to local aquaculture industry since 2013.

A successful breeding program is a program that can reach their targeted end-users with the improved fish seed and show impact on the industry or society. Thus, dissemination and adoption of improved fish seed is very important and essential for the benefit from the breeding program to the end-users.