Reducing climate impact and improving productivity by adapting pike-perch to recirculated aquaculture systems with selective breeding (SelRAS)

There is a shift in aquaculture production towards Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) because these systems have lower nutrient emission and lower water consumption compared to traditional open systems. However, for aquaculture production to increase there is an urgent need to adapt species like pike-perch to RAS. The company AquaPri, which is world leading in production of pike-perch, and Center of Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, which are experts in breeding and genetics, will work together to adapt pike-perch to RAS using selective breeding. We will develop an innovative technology to obtain phenotypes and combine it with advanced breeding and DNA tools. Selecting for improved performance of pike-perch in RAS will result in an improved product, which is price competitive in a rapidly expanding global market, and thereby increase exports. The cost of producing the fish will be approximately 30% lower in 2035 compared to today. In addition, the production can be scaled up 8 times, which will create 60 new jobs in the company. The project will decrease emission of CO2 by 35% per kg fish in 2035, which comes from producing more with the same resources and increased efficiency. We also expect to improve fish welfare by decreasing stress by adapting the fish to RAS. The project will serve as a flagship for the potential of adapting several aquaculture species to RAS systems both in Denmark and internationally.