This paper, fish genetics and breeding in Nigeria addresses the application of genetics and breeding to fish farming with the view to enhanced aquaculture production in Nigeria. This production technique is not limited to the use of conventional breeding programs nor is it necessary to go through the basic developmental steps of selection and isolation that lead to the domestication and diversification of livestock and crops over thousands of years. With modern molecular genetic techniques and induced breeding, it is now possible to develop and create new fish species 

Olele, N.F.

Tighiri, O.H.

Aquatic Commons

203
TNTROmJeTTOI\"
The history uf aquaculture in ~igeria is that of catfish culture. Recent trends all over the world, point to a
decline in landing from capture fisheries, an indicator that fish stocks have approached or even exceeded the
point of maximum sustainablc yield. Aquaculture therefore remains the only viable alternative for increasing
fish production in order to meet the protein need of the Nigerian people (Adewumi and Olaleye, 2011). Seeds
are produced mainly from captive breeding populations. However, for a minority of fanned species where mass
production of secus illcaptivity is not yet technically possible, or where its collection from wild populations still
docs not make economic sense, wild seed or young adults are obtained from capture fisheries and then grown to
marketable size in captivity. This call be termed capture-based aquaculture (Orrolenghi et al , 2004)
Although genetic improvement of common carp probably started several thousand years ago (Pullin, 200R). the
application of genetic principles to most aquaculture species is a relatively recent phenomenon. Thus. the
majority of farm-raised aquatic organisms are very similar to the wild tonus. Programmes on genetic
improvement arc beginning to be applied to more and more aquatic species. but when compared to the levels of
domestication in livestock aud ClOpS, the aquatic sector is very far behind (Caddy and Defeo. 2003). This review
is concerned mainly with the genetics and breeding in aquaculture that are farmed or potentially farmable in
Nigeria. The review also identified some strategic practices for improving the production of gcneuc resources
for aquaculture ill Nigeria.
THE GROW[NG 'MPORT.~ '\lCE OF AQUACCLTURE
The annual rates of increase for aquaculture production and value have varied greatly with species and fanning
systems hilt, since the 1970s, almost all have been higher than those for other food production sectors and
remain <;0. For example. in early 1940:., the colonial adminisuatiou in Nigeria paid serious attention to the
colony's local resources. \\ hich included fisheries, Juring World War II. The government established a fisheries
organization in Lagos in 1941 and preliminary surveys and experiments were conducted in ponds, lakes and
lagoons of the area. In 1945. the organization established a section of the Department of Commerce and
Industries. Tn early 1950s. the organization had grown to become the Federal Fisheries Services. By 1954, the
operations of the hraneh were split between the Federal and Regional (Northern, Western and Eastern)
governments. From then on, especially between 1960 to 1970,Fish catch increased tenfold. Sadly by 1990-1997
fish production declined from 170.459-152,212 tonues (Nigeria Direct, 2007), Average fish production in the
years 2001-2003 was 502 932 tonnes (Ogbonna, 2001). Presently, fish farming is a highly regarded industry in
Nigeria, with prawn, catfish and tilapia being some of the more popular fish. However, to produce good quality
seed, aquaculture needs to explore the potential of genetic engineering. As at today, most teaching institutions
do not have well equipped genetic laboratories where research can be carried out on the production of
genetically improved catfish species (Adcwumi and Olalcyc, 201 I). Genetic growth of the aquacultural sector in
Nigeria has raised concerns on its risk to the environment and native species through the large-scale release or
escape of farmed animals and their subsequent breeding with, competition with, or predation on local species.
- GENE'L'1C IMl'ROVE)'1ENTS
Genetic technologies can he utilized in aquaculture for a variety of reasons, outside improving production. Fur
instance. its improvements in marketability, eulturahility and conservation of natural resources can be facilitated
by appropriate genetic technology. Generic improvement programme:; can be used to provide short or long-term
gains. The short term gains are usually immediate, within 2 generations, and generally not cumulative (unless
combined With other long-term programmes), whereas the long term programmes such as selective breeding
produce small gains that accommodates each generation (FAO, 2012). Tn general, genetic improvcmcru
technologies have not been applied to marine species to the same extent as they have been applied to freshwater
specie-s (CI(/r;(l~ g(ll"lt'l'fllllS, Heterobranchus ~p ann Oreochromis lli/otICllS) in Nigeria. Thus, as mal inc species
ABSTRACT
This paper, fish genetics and breeding in Nigeria addresses the application of genetics and breeding in relation
to enhanced aquaculture production in Nigeria. This production technique is not limited to the lise of
conventional breeding programs nor IS it necessary to go through the baSICdevelopmental steps of selection and
isolation that lead to the domestication and diversification of hvcsrock and crops over thousands of years. With
1I1\)"CIII molecular genetic techniques and induced breeding It IS now possible to create new species
irnrncdiatcl y.
Keywords: Aquaculture, Breedinl,:, Fish. Genetics, Nigeria and Status.
THE STATUS OF FISH GE~ETlCS AND BREEDING TOWARDS SlISTA1l\AllLE AQUAClfLTURF.
IN NJGERlA
'I'ighin, 0. 11. and Olete, N. F.
Fisheries Department. Della State University, Asaha Campus l\igcria.P.O. Box 1110, Asaba, Nigeria.
GS:Vl -234lW0290S92 1. e-mail: nfoleleciemail.com.
204
become fanned. l!enetic iIllPIO\.t:lIle!111will be! expected 10 play an mcrcasmgly important role III Impronng
production.
LO~G 1 ER\J STRATEGIES
DOOlt'S:ICJlIon a id the full potential for the utilization of aquatic )!cllt!li..:resources \, ill undoubtedly only be
realized b) long term breeding programmes utilizing additive uenetic \ a iancc. Of the few breeding
programmes applied 111aquaculture, the Atlantic suhuou breeding proirammc III '\;0[\\ ay ie; an example 01 a
'onu-tenn approach to breed improvement chat ha~ 0':":11 applied III other ran, ()r the>world. lor instance in
" ).!t'lia. il 11.1:. been used fUI the improvement of tilapia and catfish
TJall~ considered fv! improv erueut should be of economic interest to th: aquaculrure industry, Although growth
rate is the chat acter most often impt 0\ ed "PUll in select in: brccdtng prot'l JI11111:"other traits (disease resistance
and lrcavy metal tolerance J \\ ~I": reponed to IIJ\ c udditi \ c g~'lI~·ti.: variance :1'111 tlcrefore. amenable to
iI1lPlll\ement, lleJ\') metal toler uncc 01 Iejection in fisheries i:-. ":4U:.J lly dcsrr iblc in ';('11111' areas, l' or Instance.
when considering heavy metal tolci ancc ill iilupiu carl' should he taken 11,)1 to II,,, till' :t., J justificauon not to
Iester e deuraded habitats (Lebel ct (II.. 2004).
Transgenic fish production is considered here as a lone 1('1"111 breed nnprovcmcru ~lr;llC~) 'I lus is because of the
lung tiruc required to idcnufv a useful gene and its promoter. AI~n 1<;till' ItOW needed W IIlSCrtthem 11110 the host
animal and then to conduct the screening required to confirm 111(' stable inheruancc of the trans gene (Dex lin t'I
(II, 2003).
Long-term bleed impiovemeur strategie» also require long-term data collection record keeping. brood stock
management, and monitouna Specialized rearing facilities limy be required. during the initial stages of a gene
transfer programme. or in order to keep uack of a fishs pedigree and family groupin!.', ",,01 all farms or regions
would have the capacity. resources, or the desire to embar k on such progrunuucs (""e\\, 2003).
SHORT-TERM STRATEGIES
Shot t-teun ~enetlc nnprovernent programmes may nut require the same lcvc' of record keepmg nor management
as long-term projects. This is because it imparts significant gains ~\ith simple tcchno'ogies in :l short period of
tune. It may be deceptive to view short term strategies as "suuple" or that proper brood-stock management and
accurate record keeping are not important. Such record will be necessary to maintain healthy and generical'y
appropriate stocks for manipulation.
l lybndizanon combines favourable qualities from 1\\'0 genetically different groups taking advantage of hybrid
vigour theterosrs). Stenle fish may also be produced through interspecific h) bi idizaiion. but fertile hyhrid .. also
exist for aquaculture species.
In all of these breeding trials. it is only the first filial (FT) generation that is of interest to the culturists, therefore
the pure parental lines must be maintained and managed in the breeding centre.
Manipulation of chromosome-sets (polyploidizatiou) has been accomplished for catfish and tilapia species
through thermal and chemical shocks to developing embryos.
Triploid organisms are particularly interesting because they should be sterile and therefore he able to put more
energy into the growth process rather than into maturation and reproduction. However, this assumprion ooes not
hold tor all species and n-iploids dcmonstrate varying levels of reproductive adivity and growth difference ITom
diplOidS (I"AO. 2012). The petionllance in culture of triploids in relation 10 diploids set!lIIl>to bc spccies spccifie
(Olm1ham. 2004).
'1he production of mono sex groups is another Shol1-tem1 strategy that takes advantage or !>cxualdimorphiml in
important tTallS or when reduced chance of reproduction is desired. For example male tilapia grow fasler lhan
females and a single sex population of tilapia wO\lld not be pLVne lo It:plOduClivc ~tunllng (Mair pI nl.. 2002),
whereas female rainbow trout arc desirable because of faster gro\qh rate \\ itlt delayed maturily (Dunham,
2004).
COMBl;\"Il"G TECH)\"JQUES
Several techlllques CJn be combined to take advantage of different klllds of genetic di\ elsit}'. G..:uc tran,;f.:r may
be com billed \\~th selectl\ e brecdlllg because the transterred gene '11a)' confel illlPIUVClllcnt on one ~haraclcr
while selective breedlllg may round-out the unprovcm..:nt by inclcasin)! the level of dOIlI<!:.ticaliun.
Care should be taken however, not to lose the transgene dUring the selectlvc breed Ill)!, phase.
Although mallY diplOid clamd hybrids are not usefi.!1for aquaculture. tnploidlzatioll of the h,blld:. Illay confer
lIlcreased \ iabillty 011 the hybnds (GI ay 1."1 lIf 2009). Hybl idiLalloll and pol yploidi/311on ha\ e heen urili7t'd in
tandem and haw been shown to implove developmental homeostasis III Clal ia...~p 'I( Hct.:mhranchll;; l'P hybrid<;
'1riplOldization of Clarias sp X Heterobl ancbus sp hybrids inci eased thcll ~un 1\OIldmI growth rate to a l{'vel
comparable to Atlantic salmon (Galbleath and TIlolgaard, 2007).
CE:'<JETIC TECHNOLOGIES AND COlXSERV ATlON
As 111other agricultural sectors. the expansion of aquaculturc has not been without cullUm ersy and cost. Several
groups have tdentlfied aquaculture as a significant threat to natural envilonment:. unu to aquatic biolobrieal
diversity through the release of pollutants and Ihe interaction, (through interbreeding) uf farmed species wilh
native speCIes SpeCific genetic technologies have also b'O'en idenlliied as being potentially daugerous. The
205
danger in the production of transgenics is not the technology per se, but the fact that so much uncertainty may
surround the functioning the new gene construct in a new host and whether or not the new gene can be passed
on to other organisms. There is also uncertainty as to the reproductive potential of many hybrids and triploid
organisms. as well as uncertainty 011 the viability of selectively bred fish in nature. The use of these genetically
manipulated orgarusms has not generated the controversy that rransgcnics have.
TOWARDS SUSTAIJ\ABLE AQ{)ACCLTlJRF.
As directed. selection programmes progi ess and as domestication selection proceeds by the simple act of raising
fish ill fauns. more genetically differentiated strains for aquaculture will be created. One question the industry
\\ ill have to face is how 10 manage litis new diversity. Will <I few species become differentiated into a multitude
uf races. stocks or varieties, as has happened ill agriculture? Or will many different species become
domesticated uccorduig to local needs'.' This issue arose with Atlantic salmon and the winter flounder ill the
uuuhcastem section of :--I011it Aurei ica.IShould selective breeding of Ul gene transfer of an AFP antifreeze gene
be uudeitakeu UI order 10 expand the area WitCH! Atlantic saluiou could bt: cultured; 01 should efforts be made at
domesticating the winter Ilouudei thai call natui ally live in these cold waters?
(,O:\(,UJSIOI'i
l'hc aquaculture sector in Niger ia is not limited to thc usc of conventional breeding techniques nor is it
necessary 10 go through the basic development steps or selection and i~ulutiun that lead III the domestication and
divci sificuuon of livestock and crops over thousands or years. With modern molecular genetic techniques and
induced breeding. it is possible lu create essentially new species immediately.
RF.FF.RE"CE
Adew urni A. A and Olaleye V. F. (2011). Catfish culture in Nigeria: Progress, prospects and problems. African
Journal ofAgnculrural Research Vol. 6(6).1281-1285
Caddy, J.F. and Defeo, 0..(2003). Enhancing or restoring the productivity or natural populations of shellfish
and other marine invertebrate resources. FIIO Fisheries Technical Paper 44g. rood and Agriculture
Organization or the United Nations, Rome. 159pp.
Devlin. B.H .. Yesak, T. Y.. Biagi. I.A. and Donaldson, E.M. (2003). Lxtraordinary salmon growth. Nature 371:
209-210.
Dunham. R.A. (200·.1). The COIIll ibution of Geueticallv Improved Aquatic Organisms to Global Food Security.
Thematic paper presented to the Japan/FAO International Conference 011 Sustainable Contribution of
Fisheries to Food Security. 4 - 9 December, Kyoto, Japan.
FAO, (2012). Fisheries and Aquaculture topics. Genetic biotechnologies. Topics Fact Sheets. Text by Devin
Bartley. In: FAO Fishel ies and Aquaculture Department, Rome.
http: J\w.w.bo.o:·g, fi5herv'topiCi 1.t7<.)(>ien
Galbreath. P.F. and Thorgaard, G.H. (2007). Saltwater performance oftriploid Atlantic salmon Sal1110satar L. X
brown trout Salmo tutta L. hybrids. Aquactic. Research. 28: l·g.
Gray •. '\..K., Evans, M.A. and Thorgaard, G.H. (2009). Viability and development of diploid and triploid
salmonid hybrids.A quaculture, 112: 125-142.
Leber. K.M .. Kitada, S.. Blankenship, H. L. & Svasand, T. (eds). (2004). Stock enhancement and sea ranching:
developments. pitfalls and opportunities. Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Oxford, l'.K. Sg-lpp.
Mail', Ge. Abucay, l.S., Beardmore. J.A. and Skibinski, D.O.F. (2002). Growth perforrnance trials of
genetically male tilapia (GMT) derived from YY -males in L.: 011 station comparisons with mixed sex
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U. and Ymgqi Zhou (eds.) Proceedings of the I'hird World FIsheries Congress. Feeding the world with
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shrimp fisheries and their impact 011 livillg resources. Shrimp fisheries in Asia: Bangladesh. Indonesia
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The status of fish genetics and breeding towards sustainable aquaculture in Nigeria

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The status of fish genetics and breeding towards sustainable aquaculture in Nigeria

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