broodstock

Broodstock are sexually mature individuals kept for breeding purposes in aquaculture and fishery operations. They supply eggs, milt, or both for hatcheries and culture programs, and are selected for genetic quality, health, and compatibility to produce offspring with desirable traits. Broodstock can be sourced from existing farm stocks or wild populations, and managers track pedigrees to avoid inbreeding and maintain genetic diversity. Health and biosecurity are central, including quarantine, disease screening, and vaccination where appropriate, to prevent transmission into hatcheries or grow-out facilities.

Conditioning and husbandry involve optimizing nutrition, water quality, temperature, and photoperiod to promote spawning readiness. Spawning may be natural or induced using hormonal treatments, and in some species artificial insemination or controlled mating designs are used. Synchronization of gamete release, collection of eggs and milt, fertilization, and incubation are performed in hatchery systems, with attention to embryo viability and sex ratios in later life stages.

Cryopreservation of sperm is used for some species to distribute genetics and extend broodstock programs. Genetic improvement programs may implement selective breeding, progeny testing, and performance recording while maintaining genetic diversity and strong traceability. Housing is typically separate from grow-out stock, with strict biosecurity and quarantine protocols.

Broodstock management spans fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and other cultured species, and reflects species-specific reproductive biology and industry objectives. In wild-stock programs, broodstock management aims to balance production goals with conservation and sustainability.