Aquaculture finds a new efficiency ceiller in genetic research

The aquaculture harvest in Spain in 2023 was 266,066 tons. Of that figure, 83,000 tons correspond to fish. Our country imports 70% of everything that is consumed, both of farms and fishing. Genetic research seeks to favor production. The methodology to select farm fish does not basically differ from what is done with traditional terrestrial species: the reproductive potential is determined after analyzing the characteristics of the animal. Research in this area favors the transfer of knowledge from the university to the aquaculture companies and the different administrations.

Aquigen, from the Department of Genetics of the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), began its trajectory in 1987. Led by Paulino Martínez Portela, Professor of Genetics of the Faculty of Veterinary, the team studies the applications of genetics for conservation and improvement thanks to the new genomic strategies and bioinformatic methodologies.

But what is genetics for aquaculture companies? According to Martínez, “it allows to adapt the product that the market demands from the genetic material of the stocks of players founded in principle with wild populations.” “You can model it so that it has a better taste, so that it is healthier, more resistant to pathologies …”, he adds.

Before starting to perform the genetic selection program, it is necessary to meet certain parameters at the level of reproduction, hatchery and fattening. It should also fight against pathologies, one of the main challenges of aquaculture, explains: «Animal density facilitates the possible transmission of emerging diseases, also related to climate change. Vaccines do not work as in mammals, because fish have a slightly more primitive immune system.

The process follows guidelines that have been modified, details the professor: «We select the players that have the most appropriate characteristics to obtain descendants that look like these parents and that allow in each generation to improve productivity and the cost-benefit relationship. Traditionally it was done through pedigree analysis, the genealogy had to be drawn on the crossings, a quite complicated issue. But the arrival of molecular markers allowed us to establish family relationships between fish and choose the ones that grow the most, the most resistant ».

«From that initial phase of application of markers that favor a more efficient selection – Relata – we have passed to a new era, the era of genomics. As the costs of the genotyped and genome sequencing have been reduced, we are using, for example, in trout rainbow, 60,000 markers that allow us to identify the regions that may be associated with the resistance to pathologies, with greater growth and, therefore, to design some crosses in the most precise selection programs and with better results ». This process applies to any kind of agronomic interest. The great advantage of aquaculture over traditional land domestic animals is that all genetic diversity still resides in wild populations. The selection potential is much greater.

Worldwide, key species in aquaculture are Atlantic salmon (Norway contribution) and tilapia (which is barely used in Spain). «Those two species are those that have traction aquaculture. In Spain, genetic selection is being made with rainbow trout, rodaballo, sole, lubina and gold, ”says Martínez Portela.

The transfer of knowledge and collaboration with companies and agencies is in the DNA of Aquigen: «We collaborate with the main companies in Spain (in Galicia particularly, with companies that work in Rodaballo, Trucha and the sole, and in the Mediterranean with Lubina and Golden). We also do technological transfer with Central America, South America and North Africa. And, of course, we are involved in various European projects ».

The Spanish Aquaculture Business Association (APROMAR) concentrates most of the companies in the sector. «The production of any primary production activity, whether plants or animals, depends essentially on two factors. One is the place where you are, its climate, soil, water. And then the management that is done, the management of that space, ”says the manager of APROMAR, Javier Ojeda.

The spokesman for APROMAR wants to clarify that genetic research in aquaculture has nothing to do with the transgenic organisms that occur in agriculture: “The European Union (EU) has established a clear separating line to control that there is no smallest risk to consumers.”

Aquaculture production, he states, has many variables: «The quality of food, management, how veterinary biologists care of animals. In fish there is the peculiarity that they are poiquiloterms, its body has the temperature of the natural environment. A fish that is 25 degrees grows faster than that same fish at 15 degrees ».

«The aquaculture we make in Spain is based on scientific knowledge, although without a doubt with the knowledge inherited from traditional management. We are the country of Europe with more researchers, especially researchers, with more centers and with more publications, ”says Ojeda.

Research, also in genetics, marks the future, indicates: «Innovation and technological development are very important to control and manage the environmental impact, the nutritional quality of fish. The ‘Big Data’, artificial intelligence, automation, remote control through probes are vital because there is a lot of aquaculture in the middle of the sea and we cannot be there all day. We have to know what happens ». Ojeda values ​​the advantages of aquaculture production: «A storm comes and fishing boats remain in the port, but the farms remain in the sea. The engineering behind the floating nurseries is very remarkable. The use of satellite information of Copernicusof the European Earth Level Measurement System from space, is used to manage enclaves ».

Anticipate pathologies

The KOA Biotech biotechnological startup, based in Barcelona and Spin-Off of the Pompeu Fabra University, has developed a solution based on advanced sensory and artificial intelligence (AI), which allows anticipating the appearance of bacterial pathologies in fish farms.

Koa Biotech’s sensory detects bacterial pathologies early in water and thus favors better production. Sira Mogas, founder and CEO of the company, points out that “what we do is anticipate pathologies in fish farms” and add “that technology is in the process of validation, with the aim of marking a before and after in the aquaculture biosafety.”

This early identification capacity of water infections allows aquaculture farms to apply preventive measures before the propagation of pathogens is accelerated, reducing both animal mortality and the use of pharmacological treatments. “It’s not just about reacting to an outbreak, but anticipating him,” says Mogas.

Currently, there are two major challenges in the industry that condition its development and sustainable growth: improve food efficiency (feed conversion ratio, FCR) and increase resistance to disease. In this context, the new data source generated by KOA Biotech facilitates companies strategic decision making. In addition, in combination with genetic improvement programs, these technological advances can contribute to greater resistance from water species to diseases. The incidence of infections varies depending on the phase of the productive cycle, but, according to various external sources, it is estimated that global productive losses reach approximately 30% in this type of crop. “If we manage to reduce these losses through prevention, the economic and environmental impact is huge,” says Mogas.

The KOA Biotech solution is based on biosensors developed by the company itself, which require specific hardware to perform the readings and algorithms of AI that identify response patterns associated with the presence of pathogens. This system transforms water analysis into a predictive tool.

The business model, called ‘Sensing As a Service’, consists in offering a continuous monitoring service through a device that is not sold, but is included within a subscription. This also includes the monthly supply of its own consumables, providing farms with the possibility of constantly monitoring possible increases in pathogenic species.