32 JUNE 2025 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG Aquatic Genetic Resources A common challenge to world aquaculture is the maintenance of genetic diversity. This is the fundamental pillar on which the aquaculture and capture fisheries sectors rely to exist and grow sustainably (FAO 2022). Aquatic genetic resources (AGR) enable organisms to grow, adapt to natural and human-caused challenges such as climate change, resist disease and parasites, and continue to evolve. The diversity of AGR determines the species’ adaptability and resilience to environmental changes and contributes to the wide variety of shapes, colors, and other characteristics of aquatic species. In addition, variability in AGR is the basis for genetic improvement in aquaculture. In spite of the relevance of genetic diversity this factor is overlooked in national frameworks. Based on this premise, in 2019 FAO highlighted the importance of aquatic genetic resources (AGR) and defined them as comprising DNA, genes, chromosomes, tissues, gametes, and other early stages in the life history of individuals, strains, and stocks that hold real or potential value for food and aquaculture (FAO 2019). Subsequently, it has been established that the conservation, sustainable use, and development of AGR — as well as ensuring the fair and equitable distribution of the benefits derived from their use — is a vital international concern. Consequently, the Global Action Plan for the Conservation, Sustainable Use, and Development of Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Aquaculture (FAO 2022) was developed with the objective of “addressing the conservation, sustainable utilization, and development of AGR.” In Chile, the requirements and actions for implementing this Action Plan were identified through workshops with relevant stakeholders throughout the country (Figure 8). From these sessions, a set of actions was identified, aligned with the four priority areas defined in the global action plan: • Priority Area 1: “Inventory, Characterization, and Monitoring” Objective: Establish and strengthen national and global characterization, monitoring systems, and information for AGR. Includes 3 priority strategies. • Priority Area 2: “Conservation and Sustainable Use of AGR” Objective: Promote the conservation and sustainable use AGR of cultivated species and their wild relatives. Includes 6 priority strategies. • Priority Area 3: “Development of AGR for Aquaculture” Objective: Accelerate the development and acceptance of genetic improvement in aquaculture crop types, with a focus on expanding selective breeding programs. Includes 4 priority strategies. • Priority Area 4: “Policies, Institutions, Capacity Building, and Cooperation” Objective: Promote the development of policies related to AGR, support the development of the relevant institutions, and build capacity for the management of AGR. Includes 8 priority strategies. The action challenges to meet these strategic objectives and priorities in Chile are related to each priority area, highlighting the following in each one: Area 1: Standardize genetic terminology and create publicly accessible genetic databases. Area 2: Define measures that ensure the conservation of the diversity of AGR. Area 3: Enable the development of genetic improvement programs primarily through training and education on the use of these tools. Area 4: Secure funding for the development of aquaculture by safeguarding AGR and establish policies that define and consider AGR within their frameworks. Final Remarks Marine aquaculture is one of the activities promoted by the Blue Economy (Bennett et al. 2019) and it is considered an option to address several of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (United Nations 2015). Under these premises aquaculture is expanding faster than ever in the Global South (Garlock et al. 2020). Chile is not an exception, but several challenges must be addressed as a country to allow the growth of the activity to follow a sustainable trajectory. One of them involves potential conflicts that arise due to the multiple uses occurring in marine spaces. This demands an integrated approach for its management, among which Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) has been recognized as a process to organize the use of ocean space, as well as the interactions among human uses, and between users and the marine environment. MSP is an integrated and multi-objective process (not focused on a single economic sector), inclusive, transparent, public, future-oriented, continuing and adaptive (Ehler 2021). Another challenge is the adaptation of aquaculture to climate change. In a country like Chile this is particularly challenging due to the wide latitudinal range where aquaculture operates. Although the Chilean government has defined a climate change law, policies and an institutional framework, three main shortcomings are identified: the lack of implementation of committed activities, the lack of a strategic vision for the role of aquaculture in a changing climate and oceans, and the lack of attention to the limits of adaptation resulting from existing regulatory frameworks (Engler 2024). Currently there is an opportunity to take into consideration these challenges and re-think Chilean aquaculture since the government took the initiative to reform the aquaculture law based on a participative process. Notes Sandra L. Marín*,1,2 Marcela P. Astorga,1 Camila Barría,3,4 Rodrigo Carrasco,5 Alexander Jaramillo-Torres,6 Carlos Molinet,1 Pedro Murúa,1,7 María José Torrealba,8 and Felipe Tucca.6 1 Instituto de Acuicultura y Medio Ambiente, Universidad Austral de Chile, Sede Puerto Montt. 2 Centro FONDAP de Investigación en Dinámica de Ecosistemas Marinos de Altas Latitudes. (IDEAL), Universidad Austral de Chile, Puerto Montt, Chile. 3 Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias de la Acuicultura, Escuela Marine aquaculture is one of the activities promoted by the Blue Economy and it is considered an option to address several of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Under these premises aquaculture is expanding faster than ever in the Global South. Chile is not an exception, but several challenges must be addressed as a country to allow the growth of the activity to follow a sustainable trajectory.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjExNDY=