Launched in September, 2024, the new FAO Aquatic Genetic Resources Information System (AquaGRIS), the first of its kind, is a publicly accessible tool collecting a variety of information on aquatic genetic resources (AqGR) used in aquaculture, specifically farmed types (e.g., strains, varieties, hybrids etc.) and wild stocks of farmed species. The information in AquaGRIS is entered by country representatives through an online questionnaire, whose access is restricted to them, and includes: species origin, impact on local biodiversity, climate change impact, habitat status, production purpose and trends, lists of farmed types available for species and their characteristics (genetic, phenotypic and performance), breeding programmes, conservation efforts, list of genetic stocks and their use for seed and broodstock collection etc. A set of indicators, developed in consultation with countries, are integrated within the tool and will allow the monitoring of status and trends in the management of these resources in key areas like characterization, conservation and genetic improvement.
AquaGRIS was developed in response to a request by FAO Members recognizing that the aquaculture sector generally lacks information on farmed stocks of cultured species and on the wild stock on which aquaculture depends.
AquaGRIS has a range of applications benefiting a variety of aquaculture stakeholders (e.g. policy makers, researchers, producers and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations). From its public user interface (UI), users can: filter data by geographic area, taxonomic group (finfish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic plants, algae, etc.), species, farmed type and genetic stock; and generate fact sheets at country, species, farmed type and genetic stock level.
The availability of this tool providing access to robust data on aquatic genetic resources will help ensure the implementation of the Global Plan Action on aquatic genetic resource, and contribute to the future developments and monitoring of the status of global biodiversity within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.