Optimizing hatchery practices for genetic improvement of marine bivalves

Aquaculture currently accounts for approximately half of all seafood produced and is the fastest growing farmed food sector globally. Marine bivalve aquaculture, farming oysters, mussels clams, represents a highly sustainable component this industry has major potential global expansion via increased efficiency, numbers of, production systems. Artificial spat propagation (i.e. settled juveniles) in hatcheries selective breeding have to offer rapid widespread gains molluscan aquaculture industry. However, bivalves unique life-histories, genetic genomic characteristics, which present significant challenges achieving such improvement. Selection pressures experienced by larvae wild contribute drive population structure animal fitness. Similarly, domestication selection likely act on hatchery-produced spat, full implications not been fully explored. In review, we outline key features these taxa practices applied affect phenotypic variability hatchery-propagated stock. Alongside, compare artificial natural processes investigate possible consequences hatchery stock production. addition, identify areas investigation that need be prioritized continue advancement improvement breeding. The accessibility next-generation sequencing technology high-powered computational capabilities facilitate implementation novel tools programmes aquatic species. These emerging techniques represent an exciting opportunity sustainably expanding sector.