Project Description

Only about 10% of today’s global aquaculture production use genetically improved stocks. In Europe, some breeding programmes sist of only the basic components of a breeding scheme. Hence, there is large potential to increase efficiency and profit by domestication and genetic improvement of farmed finfish. The main challenge of FISHBOOST is to realise this potential into eomic and social acceptable breeding schemes, and advance these for each of the six target species. Acknowledging the different capacities of the species, the aim of FISHBOOST is: To improve the efficiency and profitability of European aquaculture by advancing selective breeding to the next level for each of the six main finfish species through collaborative research with industry. FISHBOOST siders the main components of breeding programmes for Atlantic salmon, common carp, European seabass, gilthead seabream, rainbow trout and turbot. Disease resistance and production efficiency are genetically improved through detailed phenotyping and advanced genomic technologies. The eomic impact and producers’ perceptions will be assessed for the recommendations for each of the species. 14 well-recognised RTD participants in Europe on aquaculture breeding will collaborate in a five year comprehensive research project with 7 SMEs, 4 large industries and 1 NGO throughout Europe that are in the lead of the development of their species’ breeding programmes or are vectors between industry and RTD. A mixture of low and high-tech technological advances depending on current capacities of the species will be developed to move each species’ breeding program to the next level. This step-change advance will facilitate balanced and sustainable breeding programmes applying a wide set of traits, breeding tools and technologies. A dissemination program will deliver these results to SMEs and other end-users, thereby advancing existing and stimulating new aquaculture breeding programmes in Europe. 

Partners

Coordinator: Nofima AS

Participants: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Institut Francais de Recherche pour l’exploitation de la Mer, The University of Edinburgh, Sarl Milin Nevez, Salmobreed As, Cluster de la Acuicultura de Galicia Asociacion, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Ferme Marine du Douhet Sas, Biomolecular Research Genomics Srl, Kalliergeies Ydrovion Organismon Anonymos Etaireia, Geneaqua Sl, Gie Laboratoire d’analyses Genetiques pour les Espaces Animales, Jihoceska Univerzita v Ceskych Budejovicich, Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria, European Forum of Farm Animal Breeders, Vyzkumny Ustav Veterinarniho Lekarstvi, Stichting Dienst Landbouwkundig Onderzoek, Maa Ja Elintarviketalouden Tutkimuskeskus, Universitetet for Miljo og Biovitenskap, Syndicat des Selectionneurs Avicoles et Aquacoles Francais, Fédération Européenne des Producteurs Aquacoles, Wageningen University, Klatovske Rybarstvi As, Scea les Poissons du Soleil, Università degli Studi di Padova