The document reviews the role of biotechnology in enhancing aquaculture and fisheries, highlighting challenges such as increased fish demand and disease outbreaks. Key areas of biotechnological application include genetic improvements, biosecurity, environmental management, and biodiversity conservation. Despite the potential benefits, the implementation of these technologies in Africa remains limited, necessitating targeted programs for genetic and feed improvement, as well as disease control.

1. A Review of Biotechnology in Aquaculture and Fisheries
T. Gwaza, D. Kassam, E. Kaunda
WB African Centre of Excellence & NEPAD/SANBio Regional Fish Node
Lilongwe University Of Agriculture And Natural Resources, Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi
Presented at the FAO Regional Meeting on Agricultural Biotechnologies in Sustainable Food Systems and Nutrition in Africa- 22-24 Nov 2017, AUCC, Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia

2. Introduction
 Increased Pressure on fish demand
 Approximately 40% of fish for human consumption comes
from aquaculture (SIFO, 2013)
 With population growth comes the need to produce ‘more’
fish
 Tremendous progress made in developing optimal
management practices in aquaculture – Effects- Example -
Pressure in Aquaculture for fishmeal

3. WORLD FISH PRODUCTION AND AFRICA’S SHARE
Figure 1: World capture and aquaculture and share of Africa
Total World 90 catch million tons . Africa 8 million MT
Continental 11.2 million MT Africa 2.5 million MT
Aquaculture 60 million MT Africa 1.4 million MT

4. 4
50%
48%
0%
2%
1960
Pig Chicken
Aquaculture Other
36%
50%
10%
4% 1980
Pig Chicken
Aquaculture Other
Pig
20%
Chicken
5%
Aquaculture…
Other
2%
2010
Pig Chicken Aquaculture Other

5. More Worries for Africa .. Much on
Aquaculture is from China- 70 per cent

6. Content
Background
information
Value chain map
Production
Fact&Figure from our
study
Productivity
Cost structure
Income structure
Internal factor
Fingerling
Feed
Transportation
Finance
Full-time vs hobby
farmer
External factor
Historical reason
Gross Production
Data source: http://www.fao.org/fishery/statistics/global-
aquaculture-production/query/en
-
50.00
100.00
150.00
200.00
250.00
1961196519691973197719811985198919931997200120052009
TONNES
X100000
China Nigeria Ghana Malawi

7. 7
Raw material Amount (kg)
Fish meal 100.00
Soy meal 380.00
Wheat middling 210.00
Maize 280.00
Fish oil 10.00
TOTAL 1000.00

8. Four Main areas where Biotechonologies have
been used in Aquaculture and Fisheries
 Genetic improvements and control of reproduction;
 Biosecurity and disease control;
 Environmental management and bioremediation;
 Biodiversity conservation and fisheries management.

9. Genetic improvements and control of
reproduction

10. Introduction
 Future expansion of aquaculture will depend on improved productivity
through improved genetic make-up of species (Neira, 2010)
 Genetic potential of aquaculture animals is plastic and can be improved
over a relatively short timeframe (Gjedrem et al., 2012; Synder and Ziegler,
2013)
 Dramatic improvements documented in many species through various
genetic improvement programs
 Need to review various genetic improvement strategies to encourage
adoption in least developed countries

11. Genetic Improvement Programs in Aquaculture
1. Hybridization
 Crossing genetically differentiated individuals or
groups
Strain crossing Vs. Interspecific hybridization
 Target positive heterosis (hybrid vigour) and
desired traits
 Also used to generated sterile lines
 Great potential to improve productivity

12. Genetic Improvement Programs in Aquaculture
1. Hybridization
Case Study: The CxB hybrids in USA (channel catfish ♀ X blue catfish ♂)
*cc; channel catfish, FF; full feed ration, RF; restricted feed ration (RF)
Source: Green and Rawles (2009)

13. Genetic Improvement Programs in Aquaculture
1. Hybridization
Case Study: The CxB hybrids in USA (channel catfish ♀ X blue catfish ♂)

14. Genetic Improvement Programs in Aquaculture
1. Hybridization and sex control
 Why Monosex population?
 Precocious maturation and uncontrolled
reproduction (O. shiranus!!)
 Economic value of sexual dimorphism
(tilapias!!)
 Hybridization important alternative
chemical application
(Photo credit: Rob Elliot)

15. Genetic Improvement Programs in Aquaculture
1. Hybridization and sex control- Case studies
Source: Fuentes-Silva et al., (2013)

16. Genetic Improvement Programs in Aquaculture
1. Hybridization and sex control
Oreochromis karongae x Oreochromis shiranus
(WZ-ZZ??) (XX-XY)

17. 2. Selective Breeding
 Intentional breeding of organisms to
produce offspring with desirable and
improved characteristics
 Carefully planned programs yield high rates
of genetic improvement
 Favourable public view over non-
conventional genetic improvement
techniques
Source: Gjedrem and Robinson (2014)
Genetic Improvement Programs in Aquaculture

18. 3. Chromosome set (ploidy) manipulation
 Most fishes are naturally diploid
 Pressure, temperature or chemical shocks used to
induce polyploidy
 Example: Triploids- 3 chromosome sets
33% more genetic material/cell
each cell larger (hence the whole fish)
Sterility key
Genetic Improvement Programs in Aquaculture

19. 3. Chromosome set (ploidy) manipulation
Case Study: Triploid Asian catfish (Clarias macrocephalus) in Thailand (Fast et al., 1995)
Genetic Improvement Programs in Aquaculture

20. 5. Genetic Engineering
 Combining genetic material from two or more separate
species
 Why GE? Simply, Time! (Beaumont and Hoare, 2003)
 Conventional selective breeding requires generations of
careful breeding
 GE- almost instant improvement on given trait
 Public opposition presents serious challenge (Durham,
2011
Genetic Improvement Programs in Aquaculture

21. 5. Genetic Engineering- Progress

Genetic Improvement Programs in Aquaculture

22. 5. Genetic Engineering
 Case Study: Genetically engineered Atlantic salmon by AquaBounty Technologies (ABT), USA
 Normal salmon- Maturity in 3 years
 AquaBounty (AquAdvantage salmon)- Maturity in 18 months
Comparative Growth of AquAdvantage and Standard Salmon
Source: AquaBounty Technologies (2013)
Genetic Improvement Programs in Aquaculture

23. Biosecurity and disease control;
 Disease outbreaks are a serious constraint to the development of intensive
aquaculture systems (10-90 % Losses)
 diagnosis of fish diseases - histopathological methods, supported by
parasitological, bacteriological and viral studies based on necropsy and in vitro cell
culture.
 Require a high level of expertise and are often quite time-consuming, not being
susceptible to automation.
 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology become an important tool for
pathogen assessment in developing countries

24. Environmental management and
bioremediation
 Is Aquaculture – Envirornmental friendly?
 Reducing the impact of effluent discharge,
 improving of water quality and the responsible use of water are key areas
to be considered during aquaculture development
 Need for Bioremediation for the degradation of hazardous wastes; the use
of vaccination and probiotics to reduce antimicrobial use in aquaculture;
and the use of DNA-based methodologies for the early detection of toxin
producing algae.

25. Biodiversity conservation and fisheries
management
Good fisheries management - Effective conservation measures, = understanding of the
population structure - Effective population size (Ne).
Ne determines = genetic variation, genetic drift and linkage disequilibrium in populations avpof
ates of inbreeding expected in these populations.

26. Biodiversity conservation and fisheries
management
A range of biotechnology-based approaches are being used to
conserve wild fish populations
use of molecular markers: to estimate Ne in wild populations; to
study gene flow between farmed and wild fish populations; and to
monitor and understand changes in wild fish population sizes
DNA in water has been used to determine what fish live where

27. Biotechnology in Fisheries in Africa
 BiioTechnology Tools are available in the world : But hardly applied in
programmic way to make meaninglful impact:
 Aquaculture production remains low: Africa needs to run
 Spotted success stories are available: Sex reversal in many farms;
Genetic Improvement in Ghana – Akosombo train with 30 per cent
growth rate of O.niloticus
 Trails made on Feed Coating with Enzymes- Private
 Three Immediate Programmes are recommended for Africa
Biotechnology for Genetic Improvement
Biotechnology for Feed Improvement
Biotechnology for disease control and Biosecutity

28. Thank You