Breeding programmes

In addition, the improved stock produced by the breeding program with each generation of selection is used as the basis for production of the next generations. For the breeding goal of growth, all fish are tested. However, for breeding goals such as disease resistance and product quality, the breeding animals are selected based on how well their siblings perform. A modern breeding programme relies on carefully planned and controlled mating structures, as well as using advanced statistical and mathematical calculations.

On a global basis, around 60 different species are commercially farmed, of which there are registered breeding programmes for around 20. For the remaining species, production is based on obtaining eggs or catch-based aquaculture.

Here in Norway, we have four breeding programmes for salmon, of which Nofima had a leading role in the startup of two of the programmes. For cod, Nofima is running the Norwegian Cod Breeding Programme. Nofima has also played a leading role in breeding programmes for carp, tilapia and tropical shrimps.

Today, scientists and technicians from Nofima are often involved in breeding programmes as consultants and, in collaboration with the breeding companies, undertake research projects of relevance to the breeding programmes. The Norwegian aquaculture industry has pushed for the use of genetically improved fish in fish farming and Nofima has been the driving force behind the breeding. A successful breeding programme is an important factor for profitable fish farming, and we are now seeing the result of this in the salmon industry.

See "Further description" for specific information on different aquaculture species.

Salmon
When the pioneers in the 1970s decided to concentrate on salmon, they utilised experience within the breeding of domestic animals. When the domestication of salmon and rainbow trout was a factor, the way was open to try new species. Nofima (at that time Akvaforsk) was involved in starting the two largest salmon breeding programmes, which are now run commercially by AquaGen and SalmoBreed. Today, there are four salmon breeding programmes in Norway, and the two largest breeding companies make use of Nofima's research expertise.

Characteristics included in the breeding goal for salmon:

• Growth
• Disease resistance
• Reduced rate of early sexual maturation
• Enhanced slaughter quality
• Fewer deformities and greater welfare

Cod
Nofima has been involved since the start with the breeding of cod in Norway. We established, run and part own the National Cod Breeding programme, which has the goal of improving production-related characteristics of farmed cod to achieved enhanced profitability. At Nofima, much of the research on cod breeding concerns deformities and quality.

Characteristics included in the breeding goal for cod:

• Growth
• Resistance power to vibriosis (survival)
• Enhanced slaughter weight and yield
• Reduced rate of early sexual maturation

Rainbow trout
Rainbow trout was the first fish species farmed in Norway. Scientists at the Agricultural University of Norway used the rainbow trout as an experimental fish to study genetic variation. After a while salmon was also used in the trials. When they saw the potential to use the knowledge from livestock breeding programs to develop breeding programmes for fish, Akvaforsk (a forerunner to Nofima) was established. Today, rainbow trout has been surpassed by salmon in terms of the quantity produced and exported, but the species grows rapidly and has good qualities as a food fish.

Characteristics included in the breeding goal for rainbow trout:

• Growth
• Enhanced slaughter quality
• Disease resistance
• Fewer deformities

Tilapia
Nofima played a part in starting a breeding programme for tilapia in the Philippines which went under the name Genetic Improvement of Farmed Tilapia (GIFT). When the trial of five tilapia generations ended in 1997, it was hailed as the world's most comprehensive and successful breeding programme for a tropical farmed species. The impact of the GIFT Tilapia breeding program has been recognised worldwide and has stimulated other countries to begin breeding programs for this and other species. For its efforts with tilapia, Nofima (at the time Akvaforsk) received the "Outstanding Scientific Partnership Award" from the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), an organisation under the World Bank. The breeding programme has since won several other awards.

Characteristics included in the breeding goal for tilapia:

• Growth
• Cold water resistance
• Salt water resistance
• Stress tolerance

Tropical shrimp
In South-east Asia and South America, shrimps are a major farmed species. We have previously been involved and made improvements to the white shrimp breeding programme for growth and resistance to Taura syndrome and White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) in South America and are working on the resistance of tiger shrimp to WSSV in India. Nofima is also using advanced molecular methods to an increasing extent in shrimp breeding to enhance the shrimp's resistance to WSSV.

Characteristics included in the breeding goal for shrimp:

• Growth
• Disease resistance

Carp
There are several different carp species. Carp has the distinction of being the fish species with the world's longest history in aquaculture. Nofima participates in breeding programmes in India and Hungary. In 2004, we were involved in establishing the first breeding programme for carp in Serbia, with the construction of all the facilities for a family-based selection programme.

Characteristics included in the breeding goal for carp:

• Growth
• Stress tolerance
• Resistance to the bacteria Aeromonas hydrophilia