One of the largest aquaculture and aquarium shows in Asia, Aqua Aquaria India 2013, was recently held in Vijayawada, AndhraPradesh, India, from 8 – 10 February. Hosted by the Marine Products Export Development Authority of the Government of India (MPEDA), the event showcased the latest production and marketing technologies in aquaculture and ornamental fish culture to hatchery operators and breeders, technical staff, and more than 5000 local fish and shrimp farmers. National and international experts on aquaculture and ornamental fish presented technical sessions sharing their experience and research findings. Aquaculture and Genetic Improvement scientist, Dr. Curtis Lind, made a presentation based on a WorldFish publication entitled ‘Considerations about the dissemination of improved fish strains’ authored by R.W. Ponzoni, H.L. Khaw, N.H. Nguyen and B.M. Rodriguez Jr. (Download publication here: http://www.worldfishcenter.org/resources/publications/considerations-about-dissemination-improved-fish-strains). The publication summarizes key strategies, knowledge and experience related to the multiplication and dissemination of improved fish strains, and makes recommendations on how some of the practices may be improved. If implemented, these improved practices may help fish farmers increase the productivity and profitability of their farms. Related project: Unleashing the potential of GIFT tilapia on the Indian subcontinent led by the WorldFish Genetics Team in partnership with the Rajiv Gandhi Center for Aquaculture (RGCA). (See more information on the project here http://www.worldfishcenter.org/ongoing-projects/unleashing-potential-gift-tilapia-indian-subcontinent).

1. 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

2. overview
Current status and general
approach to genetic improvement
Effective dissemination of
genetic gains
Technical considerations
Institutional arrangements and
partnerships
Concluding remarks

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Effective
dissemination

7. Effective
dissemination

8. Genetic improvement takes
place in a very small fraction of
the overall population
effective multiplication of
genetic gains is critical
Effective
dissemination

9. Genetic improvement takes
place in a very small fraction of
the overall population
effective multiplication of
genetic gains is critical
most often, breeding
centers don’t exist
Effective
dissemination

10. Genetic improvement takes
place in a very small fraction of
the overall population
effective multiplication of
genetic gains is critical hatcheries attempt
their own breeding
most often, breeding
centers don’t exist often leads to
problems
inbred, genetically
vulnerable stocks

11. basic elements in multiplication and dissemination
brood stock replaced
periodically (2-3 years)
producing brood stock
not required
specialized facilities
not needed

12. basic elements in multiplication and dissemination
general aspects to be addressed
1. total demand for seed and its
geographical distribution
2. presence or absence of private and
govt. hatcheries
3. skill level and access to resources of
hatcheries
4. farmers’ need for additional training,
education and technical support

13. centralized model
single operation conducts ‘centralized’ in terms of geographic
breeding and multiplication location or control over germplasm
deals directly may require significant
with farmers resources for infrastructure

14. decentralized model
generally easier to
implement but will
forego some control
investment risk is
shared
better geographical
coverage, accessible to
more farmers

15. problem in aquaculture is...
technical
considerations difficult to maintain pedigree
high reproductive rate
(a good thing too!)
large populations from
a few breeders
rapid inbreeding, poor productivity
low effective population size (Ne)
how to manage industry-wide?

16. inbreeding can be managed
technical through proper hatchery
practices and training
considerations
production level
diversity not critical
…and a developed if maintained in
industry structure nucleus
generally not
present

17. inbreeding can be managed
technical through proper hatchery
practices and training
considerations
rotational mating schemes
to avoid inbreeding

18. inbreeding can be managed
technical through proper hatchery
practices and training
considerations
rotational mating schemes
to avoid inbreeding

19. inbreeding can be managed
technical through proper hatchery
practices and training
considerations
rotational mating schemes
to avoid inbreeding

20. Convincing hatcheries that they need
not produce brood stock replacements
not easy, requires change in perception
Doing so can benefit the industry as a
whole, through better access to
genetic gains made in nucleus
Problem is sociological and economic,
Institutional
much more than genetic arrangements
and partnerships

21. Both private and government
hatcheries should be considered in
effective dissemination strategy
Private:
- established production areas
- attractive investment opportunities
Government:
- areas insufficiently served by private
Institutional
hatcheries arrangements
- areas where lack of competition may and partnerships
result in abuse of market
- stimulate industry in regions with
future production potential
- eventually role taken over by private
sector

22. 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 Nucleus-multiplier agreements
could also have many variations
- Restricted access; criteria
established, sole discretion - Joint ventures
of the nucleus - Licensing (e.g. fees)
- Contracted production
- Combinations of the above

23. Creation of a network of accredited hatcheries
• 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’

24. NONE OF THIS Branding
most (all?) aquaculture seed is
distributed without verification of
strain or origin

25. MORE LIKE THIS
Branding
most (all?) aquaculture seed is
distributed without verification of
strain or origin
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

26. genetic improvement
current technology enables
sustained gains of at least 10 per
cent per generation
national breeding programs can
have very favourable cost-to-
Concluding
benefit ratios remarks
attention to design of genetic
improvement program essential

27. effective dissemination of gain
high reproductive rate of fish
offers great opportunities in
terms of multiplying genetic gains
creation of a formal structure at
multiplication or hatchery level, Concluding
complemented by training and
education programs, appears essential
remarks
an area where often we have not
been as successful as in achieving
and demonstrating genetic gains

28. effective dissemination of gain
experience shows that effective
dissemination will not occur
‘naturally’, spontaneously
It will happen infrequently unless
resources are specifically allocated to Concluding
this activity
remarks
means trained people with means
to influence producers, and to
feed back information to the
Breeding Center

29. Improved fish have no impact
unless they reach the farmers
easier to achieve genetic improvement
than to be successful at dissemination
Concluding
remarks
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

30. Thank you

31. photo credits: full manuscript:
1. Hooi Ling Khaw Ponzoni, R.W. ; Nguyen, N.H. ; Khaw, H.L. ; Rodriguez, B.M. Jr.(2012)
2. Flickr/US Fish & Wildlife Service Considerations about effective dissemination of improved fish
3. Flickr/Guy Mason strains. WorldFish, Penang, Malaysia. Working Paper: 2012-47
4-5. Roger Smith http://www.worldfishcenter.org/resources/publications/consideration
6. top: Hooi Ling Khaw s-about-dissemination-improved-fish-strains
bottom: Flickr/Sukil
7. top: Hooi Ling Khaw thanks to:
bottom: Curtis Lind Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA),
11. Curtis Lind Govt. India, for supporting speaker’s participation at Aqua
12. Flickr/ WorldFish Center Aquaria 2013
15. anon
17. Flickr/wokerjabby
20. Flickr/ Hapal
23. Flickr/Patrick Dugan
24. danmeth.com
25. Flickr/ linuts
Acknowledgements