© Benchmark Genetics
The research, conducted by Benchmark Genetics in collaboration with AVRAMAR, analysed production and pedigree data from almost 124,000 fish across 1,843 families bred between 2002 and 2023. The findings provide rare, large-scale evidence of the long-term value of sustained investment, reflecting more than two decades of partnership in developing one of the Mediterranean's longest-running commercial breeding programmes.
Over this 20-year period, the programme achieved an average annual genetic gain of 3.6 percent – equivalent to approximately 15 percent per generation – while successfully maintaining low levels of inbreeding and preserving genetic diversity.
Beyond documenting long-term genetic progress, the findings demonstrate the broader value of selective breeding in modern aquaculture. Improved growth rates have the potential to shorten production cycles, improve resource utilisation, reduce biological risk and strengthen the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of aquaculture production. Although this study focused on harvest weight, the breeding programme has applied multi-trait selection to improve a range of commercially important characteristics, including robustness, survival and product quality.
"Long-term datasets of this quality are exceptionally rare in aquaculture," said Ingunn Thorland, senior geneticist at Benchmark Genetics and lead author of the study, in a press release. "This study demonstrates that well-designed breeding programmes can deliver sustained genetic improvement over decades while maintaining the genetic diversity needed for future progress. It provides strong scientific evidence of the long-term value of selective breeding for aquaculture."
"This publication reflects more than two decades of continuous development of our breeding programme," says Nikos Katribouzas, group genetics and R&D manager at AVRAMAR. "The documented genetic gains confirm the value of long-term investment in selective breeding and provide a strong foundation for the continued development of the programme."
By demonstrating that significant genetic gains can be achieved under commercial farming conditions alongside responsible diversity management, the study highlights selective breeding as a highly effective technology for aquaculture. As global demand for sustainable seafood continues to grow, these findings reinforce its role in improving biological performance and production efficiency. They also provide a strong foundation for integrating genomic technologies into commercial breeding programmes, enabling even greater improvements in productivity, health and resilience in future generations.
