Molecular Traceability of Spatial Genetic Diversity for Sustainability of Fish Genetic Resources: A Perspective for India

摘要

Sustainability of aquaculture sector is considered pivotal for future nutritional security, to produce 40 million ton required from 2030 onwards. The management and improvement of fish genetic resources, holds the key to enhance production while overcoming the constraints of finite resources. In this context, it becomes imperative that the genetic variability in natural populations of aquaculture species is documented so as to plan its use in domestication, genetic improvement and for conservation ofthe natural genepool. A population of a species is composed of genetic stocks, which are locally evolving units and develop attributes of adaptive significance to the diversified local environments. Such intraspecific variability in the species can be asource of useful characters with potential application in domestication and genetic improvement of the species. The inadequate knowledge on genetic stocks of cultivable species of fishes is a major constraint in blue growth of aquaculture (CGRFA, 2016)and this is in contrast to the scenario in domesticated animals and plants, where breeds/ varieties etc are well documented. Therefore, bridging this knowledge disparity between fisheries and other agriculture sectors is necessary for implementing commonguidelines on issues related to biodiversity, genetic erosion in farmed populations, IPR protection and technological advancements.