Conducted by Benchmark Genetics in collaboration with the Greek-Spanish company Avramar, a new study documents a 76% genetic improvement in harvest weight in gilthead seabream over more than twenty years of selective breeding, one of the most comprehensive long-term assessments of genetic progress ever conducted in a marine aquaculture species. According to Benchmark Genetics, beyond documenting long-term genetic progress, the findings demonstrate the broader value of selective breeding in modern aquaculture.
The study reflects more than two decades of partnership between Benchmark Genetics and Avramar in developing one of the Mediterranean’s longest-running commercial seabream breeding programs.
The study analyzed data between 2002 and 2023 and the research provides rare, large-scale evidence of the long-term value of sustained investment in breeding. production and pedigree data from almost 124,000 gilthead seabreams (Sparus aurata) representing 1,843 families produced between 2002 and 2023. Over more than twenty years of selective breeding, the program achieved a cumulative 76% genetic improvement in harvest weight, equivalent to approximately 15% genetic gain per generation (an average annual gain of 3.6%), while maintaining low levels of inbreeding and preserving genetic diversity.
Strong Scientific Evidence
The findings demonstrate the broader value of selective breeding in modern aquaculture. Improved growth rates have the potential to shorten production cycles, improve resource utilization, reduce biological risk and strengthen the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of aquaculture production. Although this study focused on harvest weight, the breeding program 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. “This study demonstrates that well-designed breeding programs 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 program,” says Nikos Katribouzas, Group Genetics & R&D Manager, 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 program.”
Commercial Farming Conditions
Called Sustained genetic gain for harvest weight in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) over more than twenty years of selective breeding, the study also provides one of the clearest examples to date of realized genetic gain achieved under commercial farming conditions, demonstrating that sustained genetic progress can be achieved alongside responsible management of genetic diversity.
As global demand for sustainable seafood continues to grow, the findings reinforce the role of selective breeding as one of the most effective and sustainable technologies for improving biological performance, production efficiency, and long-term competitiveness in aquaculture, said the members of Benchmark. The findings also provide a strong foundation for integrating genomic technologies into commercial breeding programs, enabling even greater improvements in productivity, health and resilience in future generations.
Collaboration in Shellfish Genomics
Some days before the publication of the study, Benchmark Genetics reported that researchers of the company and six leading European research institutions have developed the first high-density SNP array for the Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) and the grooved carpet shell clam (Ruditapes decussatus), providing a powerful new genomic resource to accelerate selective breeding, strengthen conservation efforts, and support the long-term sustainability of shellfish aquaculture.
Benchmark Genetics scientists played a key role in developing and validating the dual-species 63K SNP array, which contains 49,392 markers for Manila clam and 14,193 markers for grooved carpet shell clam. The platform is now available to researchers, breeding programs and industry partners seeking to improve productivity, resilience and population management through advanced genomics.
The achievement has been published in the journal Aquaculture in the paper “A dual-clam species 63K SNP array for sustainable production and conservation of wild resources”.
