Aquaculture sector eyes biotechnology to boost production

Aquaculture sector eyes biotechnology to boost production

MANILA (PNA) -- To meet the growing demand for local food supply and emerging markets for marine products, the aquaculture sector is turning to biotechnology for ways to develop better fish spawns and even develop biofuel from marine algae.

"Aquaculture production should increase to meet the demand for fisheries products," Evelyn Grace T. de Jesus-Ayson, scientist from the Aquaculture Department of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, said.

In Southeast Asia, consumption of fish products is seen to balloon to 19.7 million metric tons by 2020, from the 14.1 million MT in 2000.

Production, meanwhile, is seen to grow only 19.7 million MT by 2020 from 16.0 million MT in 2000, not enough to meet regional demands, she said.

Biotechnology refers to any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for a specific use.

In her presentation "Global Status and Prospects on Fisheries and Aquatic Biotechnology" in UP Diliman, Ayson said applications of biotechnology in aquaculture includes control of reproduction, genetic characterization and population genetics, aquaculture nutrition, control of diseases, growth enhancement and transgenesis, genetic characterization and population genetics and high density culture of micro-algae.

She said that enhancing genes of fish and other aquaculture products is not a new technology, and has been adopted in other countries for many years now.

"We have a system for producing recombinant fish growth hormone protein," she noted, saying biotechnology can develop pathogen-resistant strain of fish which can help resolve food security concerns.

In 2006, her agency undertook the development of a microsatellite DNA parentage marker suite for black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon. Black tiger shrimp has a big demand in local and export market.

Aquaculture biotechnology also offers solutions to global warming as chemicals derived from sea organisms yield high potential for the production of alternative fuel.

"At present, there is growing interest in high density culture of microalgae for use in biofuel production," she said.

Microalgae comprise a vast group of photosynthetic, heterotrophic organisms which have an extraordinary potential for cultivation as energy crops, experts say.

They can be cultivated under difficult agro-climatic conditions and are able to produce a wide range of commercially interesting byproducts such as fats, oils, sugars and functional bioactive compounds.

Certain microalgae are effective in the production of hydrogen and oxygen through the process of biophotolysis while others naturally manufacture hydrocarbons which are suitable for direct use as high-energy liquid fuels.

However, though a promising field, Ayson said biotechnology is still being greeted by criticisms and controversies such as health and security issues.

Issues about transgenic fish include risk to human health, food safety issues, toxic compounds, allergens hormones and adverse environmental impact(s).

"For many aquaculture systems, we should expect transgenic fish to escape and enter natural waters," Ayson said. (PNA)