Ayson, Felix G.

Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department Institutional Repository (SEAFDEC/AQD Institutional Repository )

Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture DepartmentSEAFDEC/AQD Institutional Repository http://repository.seafdec.org.phJournals/Magazines SEAFDEC Asian Aquaculture2002Facing the challenges in aquaculturethrough biotechnologyAyson, Felix G.Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development CenterAyson, F. G. (2002). Facing the challenges in aquaculture through biotechnology. SEAFDECAsian Aquaculture, 24(3), 17, 20.http://hdl.handle.net/10862/2711Downloaded from http://repository.seafdec.org.ph, SEAFDEC/AQD's Institutional RepositorySEAFDEC Asian Aquaculture 24 (3) July-September 2002      17Biotechnology, the science of manipulating genetic traits and sub-stances, has been with us for centuries. The Chinese have createdgold fish of different shapes, sizes and colors from a single speciesthrough centuries of breeding. New techniques in molecular biol-ogy, particularly genetic engineering, have made the field moreexciting. Microorganisms act as the new drug factories. Harness-ing them has made many medicines cheaper and more readily avail-able. For example, insulin for diabetics is mostly produced by ge-netically altered bacteria through recombinant DNA technology.Biotechnological tools fueled the Green Revolution throughthe development of higher yielding varieties of rice, wheat andmaize. Biotech is being held as the engine of the second GreenRevolution - one that would be less dependent on pesticides andfertilizers. The same tools have the potential to fuel another revo-lution, in another front - a Blue Revolution.The rapid increase in population and the ensuing increase inthe consumption of fishery products, as well as uncontrolled fish-ing, poor management, and the accumulation of chemical pollut-ants in the environments, have strained global fisheries produc-tion. Many countries have turned to aquaculture to increase fisher-ies production. At present, aquaculture is the world’s growing foodproduction sector.The success of aquaculture depends on the control of repro-duction and life cycle. The genetic background of the parent fishstock, efficient detection and effective prevention of diseases, thor-ough understanding of the optimal conditions for growth and de-velopment, sufficient supply of good quality water, and innova-tive management techniques. By improving some of these factors,the aquaculture industry has already made impressive progress overthe last several years. Application of biotechnology can furtherspeed up the expansion of the industry.The cDNAs and the genomic sequences of growth hormone(GH) and other growth factors have been isolated and character-ized for several fish species in recent years. Biologically activerecombinant GH preparations have become available and exog-enous application of recombinant GH results in significant growthenhancement in fish. If new strains of fish produce elevated butoptimal levels of GH, it would bypass many of the problems asso-ciated with exogenous GH treatment. Transgenic carp, salmon andrainbow trout have been produced to contain either GH gene pro-moter sequences or additional copies of the GH gene itself. Suchfish has been shown to grow at increased rates compared tounmanipulated fish, resulting in increased production per unit timeand a markedly shortened production cycle.Occurrence or outbreaks of diseases during aquaculture op-erations substantially reduce profitability. Antibiotics are often usedto prevent and control disease outbreaks. However, long-term usebrings the risk of bacteria developing resistance and of residues inthe cultured product. Apparently, the most effective method canonly be the development of natural disease resistance in fish. Se-lections for specific pathogen resistant (SPR) strains are compli-mentary approaches that are being addressed in current selectivebreeding programs in shrimps.Rapid disease diagnosis and screening for pathogens is onearea where molecular biology tools can be applied. In shrimp cul-ture, kits have been developed and several more are being estab-lished for PCR-based detection of viral, fungal and bacterial patho-gens before clinical symptoms of infection become evident.Harnessing the hosts’ specific and non-specific defense mecha-nisms for controlling diseases has considerable potential for healthmanagement in aquaculture. There are a large number of commer-cial immuno-stimulants and non-specific immune enhancers avail-able in the market at present and these are incorporated to the dietto provide added protection to the animals. The use of probioticsand microbial food additives is also becoming widespread.Probiotics are living bacterial preparations that improve the bal-ance of the intestinal microflora, such that digestive functions areenhanced or pathogenic microbes are inhibited or both. However,the effectiveness of many of these products still needs to be estab-lished.Facing the challenges in aquaculturethrough biotechnologyByFelix G. Ayson, Ph.D.ScientistSEAFDEC/AQD, Iloilo Philippinesfayson@aqd.seafdec.org.phThe Dean Domiciano K. Villaluz Memorial Lecture Series is held every SEAFDEC/AQDanniversary, and is dedicated to the late Dean Villaluz, the first AQD Chief, in acknowl-edgment of his able leadership during AQD’s organizational and formative years and forhis contribution to the development of the aquaculture industry in the Philippines and therest of Southeast Asia. Dean Villaluz was AQD Chief from 1973 until his retirement fromactive government service in 1979.This year’s lecturer is Dr. Felix Ayson on biotechnology (inset on right).☞ page 20SEAFDEC Asian Aquaculture 24 (3) July-September 2002      1720      SEAFDEC Asian Aquaculture 24 (3) July-September  2002In their speeches during the open-ing program, local legislator EmilioEsmeralda and the governor’s executiveassistant Diosdado Gonzaga said thatthe mariculture livelihood project couldreduce the pressure on existingGuimaras fishing grounds, which arenow overexploited and depleted. Bothexpressed appreciation and full supportto the collaborative undertaking amongAQD, BFAR and the local governmentunits of Guimaras.At the end of the SDS, the partici-pants and the LGU officials are expectedto implement sustainable mariculturelivelihood enterprises in their respectivecoastal areas.   - J GenzolaFACING THE AQUACULTURE CHALLENGE  . . .FROM PAGE 17AQD welcomesDA SecretaryMontemayorDepartment of Agriculture (DA) Sec-retary Leonardo Montemayor visitedAQD on August 4. He arrived withBFAR Director Malcolm SarmientoJr.  and National Agriculture andFisheries Council Executive Direc-tor Ricardo Villo Jr.  Also present wasBFAR Region VI Director Sonia Se-The Guimaras governor’s executive assistant,Diosdado Gonzaga, addresses the trainees atthe opening of the skills development sessionThe trainees are oriented  on the IgangMariculture Park facilities during their first dayBioremediation, which involves the degrada-tion of hazardous waste to environmentally safe lev-els by the use of selected microorganisms, bivalves,algae, etc., has been used to reduce organic loadingand excess nutrients in shrimp ponds. Selection forand engineering of organisms to be more efficientin the removal of nitrogenous and other organicwaste from the water and bottom sludge is anotherfront that has to be explored.Genetic modification may alter attributes of theorganism or create new attributes that affect its in-teraction with the environment and other organisms.One of the major concerns about releasing, acci-ville.AQD staff members headed by AQD Chief Dr. Rolando Platonwarmly greeted the guests at FishWorld, and toured them aroundthe Biotech Wet Laboratory construction site and the renovatedBiotech laboratory complex on the second floor of the NutritionBuilding. They were briefed on the purpose of the laboratory, dailyconstruction-related activities, and extent of work finished in thewet laboratory area and the Nutrition building. Dr. Platon brieflyexplained that the Governments of Japan and the Philippines pro-vided the budget for the construction.The guests were also briefed on the technologies developedby AQD. Some of the species presented were the seahorses,mudcrabs, molluscs (abalone, top shell), and finfishes (siganid,snapper). Their hatchery technologies were discussed.Dr. Platon then accompanied the visitors to Tigbauan townproper for a turnover ceremony of materials for salt making and“payaw” project. In his speech, Secretary Montemayor expressedhis confidence that AQD technologies will benefit the local fish-ers. “The culture technologies developed by AQD for seahorse andblue tang can benefit ordinary fisherfolk like you because thesespecies are expensive (and potentially profitable),”  he said.  ###dentally or deliberately, GMOs into the wild is their effect to theecosystem of the released site in particular, and on the geneticbiodiversity in general. One of the more common measures takento “reduce” these risks is sterilization. Aside from potential risksthat GMOs pose to the environment, there are perceived risks tohuman health and safety.A significant issue facing developed and developing countriesalike pertains the ownership and patents of products and processesresulting from biotechnology research. Intellectual property rights(IPR) protect and ensure the exclusive rights of scientists to theirinventions. Although IPR and patenting may encourage privatesector investment in biotechnology research, there are fears thatpatenting may lead to monopolization of knowledge, restrictedaccess to germplasm, controls over the research process, selectiv-ity in research focus, and increasing marginalization of majorityof the world’s poor population.Clearly, biotechnology has the potential to enhance aquacultureproductivity. However, in order to fast track the use of biotechnol-ogy in aquaculture operations in developing countries, there is aneed for a critical mass of trained manpower. The national govern-ments will have to provide support for this undertaking.  ###

Facing the challenges in aquaculture through biotechnology

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Facing the challenges in aquaculture through biotechnology

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