Aquaculture has been evolving fast. Producers continue to be under growing pressure to deliver more – more efficiency, more resilience, more sustainability and often with fewer resources and tighter financial constraints. So how does genetics help?
Genetics isn’t just about growing better animals. It’s about building aquaculture systems that are robust, adaptable, long-term, and commercially viable. At CAT, we demonstrate that genetics is a powerful lever producers have to future-proof their operations, and we exist to help capitalise on that potential.
Why Genetics Matters in Aquaculture
Aquaculture breeding programs have been improving fish and shellfish for many years, using approaches similar to those in other agricultural industries. At their core, these programs involve choosing the best animals as parents and consistently selecting for traits that improve performance over time.
What makes aquaculture unique is the biology of aquatic species. Many produce large numbers of offspring are fertilised externally, and a multitude of external factors can cause a varying range in how quickly they grow and mature. This creates a significant opportunity to make meaningful improvements through well-designed breeding programs. Producers typically focus on traits such as faster growth and better feed efficiency, higher yields, improved survival and robustness, product quality, and, in some cases, sterility.
Our Mission
CAT’s mission is simple – deliver custom genetic solutions that improve efficiency, sustainability, and profitability for aquaculture producers, genetics companies, and researchers worldwide.
We don’t believe in providing only off-the-shelf answers, because every species, environment, and market is different. That’s why we design breeding programs around what matters most to each client, whether that’s growth, survival, disease resistance, robustness, product quality, or a combination of traits that drive real commercial impact. We’ll work with you to agree on a plan suited to your goals.
Our tailored approach to choosing the most appropriate genotyping tool(s) for your breeding strategy is shaped by each client’s specific needs. Complex programs, such as multi-trait genomic selection, require high-density markers, whereas simpler programs may require only low-density markers for relatedness and family assignment.
By aligning cutting-edge genetic science with on-farm realities, we help producers make confident, data-driven decisions that deliver measurable results.
A True Client Partnership
Personalized Engagement, Hands-on Expertise
One of the biggest frustrations we hear from producers is feeling unsupported once a program is underway. At CAT, client engagement isn’t an add-on; it’s fundamental to how we work.
For all our annual breeding clients, we are committed to bi-weekly meetings, ensuring we stay closely involved throughout the entire breeding cycle. These regular touchpoints allow us to track progress, respond quickly to challenges, and refine strategies as conditions change.
And we don’t just show up on screens.
Guaranteed On-Site Support
CAT guarantees at least one on-site visit per year, because we know that effective genetic programs are built on real-world understanding. Being present matters. Seeing the facilities, meeting the teams, and understanding operational nuances enable us to deliver customised solutions.
Global Reach, Local Expertise and 24/7 When It Matters
Aquaculture doesn’t operate on a single time zone, and neither do we.
CAT has a genetic services team member in every major aquaculture region, providing local, on-hand support where and when it’s needed. This regional presence ensures cultural understanding, regulatory awareness, and timely response.
Our global team structure means we can provide support around the clock, with a CAT expert always available somewhere in the world.
Benefiting from the latest Genetic Improvement technologies
CAT’s clients are already benefiting from our expertise and leadership in bringing the latest genetic improvement to reality. We are working with several commercial producers to integrate genome editing into their breeding programs, giving them access to the latest advances in genetic improvement technologies.
In the same way as selective breeding, which delivers improved genetic progress over time, genome editing precisely targets and delivers genetic changes that could naturally occur. However, instead of taking many years of careful, selective breeding, this beneficial variation can now be introduced in a single generation. Our scientists directly create genetic variants in precise locations in the genome to deliver major improvements in performance, without introducing new DNA.
We can also leverage our patented approaches to induce sterility to provide clients with a guaranteed method of containment and improved growth and performance by reallocating reproductive energy.
With CAT’s guidance, clients harness these cutting-edge tools to achieve faster, more predictable improvements.
Building the Future of Aquaculture Together
At CAT, we see genetics as a collaborative journey. By working closely with producers, staying engaged throughout the breeding cycle, and delivering cutting-edge science that translates into real performance, we help producers reach their goals faster. Together, we are shaping a more resilient and profitable future for aquaculture.