The role of biotechnology in improving fish productivity

Due to the growing population of the world, the demand for fish is increasing worldwide. It seems unlikely that the increasing demand can be coordinated by increasing harvests of fish from the oceans and natural freshwater as harvesting and productivity in this area is limited. So, aquaculture remains the last hope for providing enough fish for the world, limited by land and water. Specific characteristics of aquatic species such as tolerance to different ploidy levels, external fertilization, relatively short growth period and high volume of extracted gametes have led to further genetic development in aquaculture. Biotechnology can play an essential role in improving aquaculture efficiency. The application of biotechnology to various production systems does not come without its negative effects but even still, the merits far outweigh the associated concerns because the techniques are constantly being developed, thereby reducing the negative impacts thereof. Therefore, there is a need to adopt biotechnological practices if the world is to stand any chance of achieving food security.