Bio-solution · SG04 · Seeds & genetics
Disease-resistant fish and shrimp lines (QTL- and genomic selection, SPF/SPR broodstock) instead of antibiotics, formalin and pond chemicals
Replaces
Prophylactic and metaphylactic antibiotics in hatcheries and grow-out; formalin and other chemical baths; pond disinfectants used after outbreaks
Prophylactic and metaphylactic antibiotics in hatcheries and grow-out; formalin and other chemical baths; pond disinfectants used after outbreaks
→
Scope
Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, tilapia, sea bass/bream, Pacific white shrimp (*Penaeus vannamei*); broodstock and eggs/post-larvae supply
Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, tilapia, sea bass/bream, Pacific white shrimp (*Penaeus vannamei*); broodstock and eggs/post-larvae supply
Suppliers 7
| SyAqua Group | Thailand | active |
| Global Gen Indonesia | Indonesia | active |
| Royal Hatcheries | India | active |
| Barramundi Group | Singapore | active |
| Maricultura del Pacífico | Mexico | active |
| Benur Top Group | Indonesia | active |
| Blue Archipelago Berhad | Malaysia | active |
Route into Russia / EAEU BREED
- Regulator
- Ministry of Agriculture (breeding import permits) / Rosselkhoznadzor (GMO registration)
- Typical time
- import permit within 30 working days (conventional genetics); gene-edited animals: GMO registration
- Legal basis
- Minselkhoz import-permit procedure for breeding animals and material; GMO registration under Government Decree No. 35 (18.01.2023)
Information, not legal advice — confirm the procedure for your product.
Proof 7 claims
Old process
Conventional disease control using antibiotics, formalin, disinfectants, and other chemicals, often applied as metaphylactic or prophylactic treatments.
Conventional disease control using antibiotics, formalin, disinfectants, and other chemicals, often applied as metaphylactic or prophylactic treatments.
→
New practice
Genomic selection and selective breeding for disease-resistant broodstock lines.
Genomic selection and selective breeding for disease-resistant broodstock lines.
- Displaced at scale?
- no
- Caveats
- While selective breeding and genomic selection are recognized as effective tools for disease resistance, there is no quantitative evidence showing that these practices have displaced chemical or conventional processes at a global or national scale. It remains unclear how much of the world's shrimp production is derived from selectively bred stocks, and the application of genomic selection in the commercial shrimp industry is currently limited.
- Hand review
- D2 Scotland/Norway: marker-assisted selection for IPN resistance cut outbreaks 75%, used in breeding programmes.
- checked
- 2026-10-06
| Selective breeding for disease resistance is a sustainable option that can increase resistance to infectious disease and reduce the use of antimicrobials in aquaculture. “In this context, genetic improvement is a sustainable option as it can increase resistance to infectious disease and reduce the use of antimicrobials.” global · 2022 · not applicable | peer-reviewed pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |
| Genomic selection for WSSV resistance in whiteleg shrimp resulted in a 13% improvement in survival per generation compared to conventional phenotypic selection. “We contend that the ability to evaluate the individual breeding value through genomic selection is the main reason why a higher rate of genetic gain was obtained with genomic selection (13% improved survival per generation) than that achieved with conventional phenotypic selection of WSSV resistance in L. vannamei 1.7% …” global · 2020 · pilot or niche | peer-reviewed ✓ preview-www.nature.com |
| A Brazilian shrimp farm increased mean survival rate against IMNV from 3.2 percent in the F1 generation to 55.3 percent in the F7 generation through genetic selection. “In controlled conditions of challenge with IMNV for 60 days, mean survival rate increased from 3.2 percent in the F1 generation to 55.3 percent in F7 – a significant increase in the resistance factor of 17.3 times (Fig. 1).” Brazil · 2013 · pilot or niche | industry association ✓ www.globalseafood.org |
| Genetics for disease resistance has displaced at least some antimicrobial/chemical disease control by reducing disease outbreaks (example: marker-assisted selection reduced infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) outbreaks by 75%). “MAS reduced IPN outbreaks by 75% and is now being applied in Scottish and Norwegian breeding programs to achieve genetic resistance to IPN.” Scotland and Norway (applied in breeding programs) · N/A · minority but measured share or volume | peer-reviewed ✓ pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |
| Bio-based genetics is adopted at measured market share levels in the Atlantic salmon segment via IPN-resistant eggs and smolts (genetic resistance replacing chemical/antibiotic disease control for IPN management at least within that supply chain). “Hendrix sells IPN-resistant eggs and smolt directly to commercial salmon farmers, covering 10% of the global market for Atlantic salmon in 2020.” global (Atlantic salmon; global salmon market) · 2020 · minority but measured share or volume | weak (company, news, market research, other) vet.ed.ac.uk |
| Bio-based genetics accounts for about one-third of the global salmon market when considering stocks derived from the research (IPN resistance) via direct sales and licensing/customer adoption. “Thus, IPN-resistant stocks of salmon directly derived from our research account for approximately 30% of the global salmon market.” global · 2020 (by 2020, from the described analysis) · minority but measured share or volume | weak (company, news, market research, other) ✓ vet.ed.ac.uk |
| Only a small share of aquaculture production is derived from selectively bred stocks (use of bio-based genetics for disease resistance/adoption is still limited across the overall aquaculture market). “While it has been successfully applied in aquaculture to reduce disease incidence, only a small share of aquaculture production is currently derived from selectively bred stocks.” global · N/A · pilot or niche | peer-reviewed pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |
Details
Replaces (partial): antibiotics and chemical baths in hatcheries and ponds · Scope: salmon, trout, tilapia, shrimp · Evidence: high
The chemical problem#
- Aquaculture is the fastest-growing animal production sector and, in many countries, a major user of antibiotics.
- Hatcheries rely on formalin and disinfectants; shrimp ponds receive antibiotics and chemicals during outbreaks of AHPND/EMS and white spot.
- Viral diseases (IPN, ISA, white spot) cannot be treated at all — only prevented.
Product overview#
- QTL/marker selection — the classic case: a major QTL for infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) resistance in Atlantic salmon; marker-selected eggs became standard in Norway and IPN outbreaks fell dramatically.
- Genomic selection — breeding values for resistance to sea lice, pasteurellosis, AHPND, white spot, using SNP chips.
- SPF/SPR shrimp broodstock — specific-pathogen-free (and specific-pathogen-resistant) lines from biosecure nucleus centres (see F04).
- Genetically improved tilapia (GIFT and successors) — faster growth plus disease-tolerance selection.
Active ingredient / Composition#
- Eggs, fry, post-larvae or broodstock from a selected line, with a disease-resistance breeding value or marker status.
Key facts#
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| IPN salmon | One QTL explains most genetic variation in IPN resistance; marker-assisted selection cut outbreaks in Norwegian farms |
| Shrimp | SPF lines are the global standard for P. vannamei; resistance screening for AHPND/WSSV is offered by leading breeders |
| Response to selection | Disease-resistance traits often have moderate heritability → measurable gains each generation |
| Regulation | Conventional selection: no special approval; gene-edited fish are GMOs in the EU and Russia |
Advantages#
- Prevents diseases that have no drug treatment.
- Lower mortality → less feed wasted per kg harvested.
- Gains are cumulative and delivered through the normal egg/post-larvae trade.
Mode of action#
- Natural genetic variants change host-pathogen interaction; e.g. the IPN-resistance QTL is linked to the epithelial cadherin gene, which the virus uses to enter cells.
- Selection on challenge-test data (sib testing) raises the frequency of resistance alleles in the population.
- SPF status removes pathogens at the start of the production chain.
Application#
| Species | Disease | Method, timing and specifics |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic salmon | IPN, sea lice | Buy QTL-selected eggs; combine with vaccination (F01) and cleaner fish (F02) |
| Shrimp | AHPND, WSSV | Stock SPF/SPR post-larvae from accredited broodstock centres; PCR-test batches (DX01) |
| Tilapia | Streptococcosis, growth | Genetically improved strains plus vaccination |
| Sea bass/bream | Pasteurellosis, VNN | Lines selected on challenge tests |
Limitations#
- Resistance is disease-specific; new diseases appear faster than breeding cycles.
- Small hatcheries buy cheap, non-selected stock; quality assurance and PCR testing are needed.
- Pathogens can adapt to resistant hosts.
- Gene-edited fish face GMO rules in many markets.
Evidence of displacement — D2: measurable displacement (minority share)#
Assessment (hand-reviewed): Scotland/Norway: marker-assisted selection for IPN resistance cut outbreaks 75%, used in breeding programmes.
Verified figures (the number is in the quoted sentence and the sentence is on the source page):
- displacement — Genetics for disease resistance has displaced at least some antimicrobial/chemical disease control by reducing disease outbreaks (example: marker-assisted selection reduced infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) outbreaks by 75%). (Scotland and Norway (applied in breeding programs), N/A; peer-reviewed: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- displacement — Bio-based genetics accounts for about one-third of the global salmon market when considering stocks derived from the research (IPN resistance) via direct sales and licensing/customer adoption. (global, 2020 (by 2020, from the described analysis); weak: vet.ed.ac.uk)
- performance — Genomic selection for WSSV resistance in whiteleg shrimp resulted in a 13% improvement in survival per generation compared to conventional phenotypic selection. (global, 2020; peer-reviewed: preview-www.nature.com)
- performance — A Brazilian shrimp farm increased mean survival rate against IMNV from 3.2 percent in the F1 generation to 55.3 percent in the F7 generation through genetic selection. (Brazil, 2013; industry association: globalseafood.org)
Suppliers — real products and services (from the vendor index)#
Active vendors whose own card shows selected or disease-screened broodstock / genetics.
| Company | Region · Country | What the index shows | Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| SyAqua Group | Asia · Thailand | P. vannamei genetics by genomic/marker-assisted selection with AHPND and WSSV resistance screening | card |
| Global Gen Indonesia | Asia · Indonesia | SPF vannamei broodstock from a government-recognized OIE-SPF facility | card |
| Royal Hatcheries | Asia · India | SPF broodstock and hatchery services | card |
| Barramundi Group | Asia · Singapore | selective breeding and juvenile production for barramundi | card |
| Maricultura del Pacífico | LatAm · Mexico | proprietary genetic core for disease-resistant shrimp lines | card |
| Benur Top Group | Asia · Indonesia | SPF L. vannamei and P. monodon post-larvae | card |
| Blue Archipelago Berhad | Asia · Malaysia | SPF shrimp hatcheries (seed production) | card |
Government funding signals#
Scanned 2026-10-01 (OpenAIRE + NSF); candidates reviewed by hand.
Signal: Strong. UKRI-BBSRC funds a series of disease-resistance projects: BB/V009990/1 and BB/V009818/1 “Towards lice-resistant salmon” (functional genetics and genome editing, £1.16 M combined), BB/R008973/1 and BB/R008612/1 (infectious salmon anaemia resistance via genome editing, £0.66 M), and the RCUK-CONICYT / Newton Fund projects on disease resistance in Chilean salmon (BB/N024044/1, MR/N026144/1).
Scientific evidence#
- Houston RD, Haley CS, Hamilton A, et al. (2008). Major quantitative trait loci affect resistance to infectious pancreatic necrosis in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Genetics 178: 1109–1115.
- Moen T, Baranski M, Sonesson AK, Kjøglum S (2009). Confirmation and fine-mapping of a major QTL for resistance to infectious pancreatic necrosis in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar): population-level associations between markers and trait. BMC Genomics 10: 368.
- Gjedrem T (2015). Disease resistant fish and shellfish are within reach: a review. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 3: 146–153.
- Houston RD, Bean TP, Macqueen DJ, et al. (2020). Harnessing genomics to fast-track genetic improvement in aquaculture. Nature Reviews Genetics 21: 389–409.
Bioeconomy value#
Resistant broodstock is the cheapest antibiotic alternative in aquaculture per kilogram harvested. Asian and Latin American shrimp breeders in this index already sell it, which makes it a ready product line for aquafeed and hatchery buyers.
Cross-links: F01 fish vaccines; F04 SPF shrimp and biofloc; F07 phage therapy; SG03 livestock genetics.