2008/722 Scope and economic analysis of options for a nationally unified breeding program that provides significant economic benefit to the Australian abalone industry

By Dr Nick Robinson & Dr Xiaoxi Li

Well disigned selective breeding programs have been the key to the successful development and ongoing viability of major aquaculture industries worldwide. The abalone industry has recognised that a nationally unified selective breeding program is needed in Australia and has identified a number of essential requirement for such a program.

• There is a need to develop a capacity to achieve maximum rates of genetic gain of the traites selected in as short a time frame as possible.
• There is a need to develope a capacity for all abalone breeding initiatives to work collaboratively and value add to eachother.
• There is a need for capacity to impliment biosecurity measures that wil meet state agencies' legislative requirements for translocation
• There is a need for capacity to supply all industry members with selectively bred stock
• Teres is a need for selective breeding initiatives