6-3 |
Biotechnological applications in aquaculture |
F. GARCIA-CARRENO, Biochemistry, Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas del Noroeste, S.C., Mar Bermejo No. 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, Apdo. Postal 128, La Paz, BCS, AL 23090, Mexico and F. Vargas Albores, Biotechnology, CIAD, Carr. Hillo-Nogales. Eji. La Victoria. Hermosillo. Sonora. México. 83000, Hermosillo, 83000, Mexico. Estimates by the United Nations indicate that the current supply of seafood products will need to increase seven-fold if we are to meet the worldwide requirement for fish and other seafood by the year 2020. Given the decline in world fish stocks caused by overfishing and climate changes, it is clear that demand can only be met by aquaculture. A sustainable aquaculture is only possible if several challenges are addressed. Challenges include: development of technologies based on sound scientific knowledge in areas such as handling of organisms, both in experimental and production aquaria, nutrition, health and genetics, both to domesticate and enhance growth rates, increase production efficiency, disease resistance, and expanded ecological range. Most current aquaculture problems result from trying to extend a balanced ecosystem too far, in the interests of higher production or higher profits. Biotechnology is the use of biological processing methods to solve problems and help make aquafarming sustainable. By using knowledge produced by nutrition and food science about the physiology of nourishment and production of suitable foods, biotechnology will: reduce the current cost of aquafarming feeding, improve feed conversion ratios, and provide adequate substitutes of protein ingredients. Sanitation in intensive culture systems will also be improved. Production of diagnostic kits to identify pathogens, genomic vaccines, and probiotics will be other achievements. Genetic engineering has yielded transgenic organisms with improved capabilities, such as fast growing and cold-resistant varieties. This lecture will consist of a general review of biotechnology advances in health, genetics, and nutrition and give results of current research in laboratories all over the world. Examples on the results obtained in the authors’ laboratories and in other associated groups will be presented.
Session 6, Marine biotechnology
|