Other major areas of activity for ACUINUGA Aquaculture Division are:
The Genetics and Reproduction Unit of Acuinuga Aquaculture Division aims to provide technical assistance for the management and selection of aquatic species breeders.
To achieve this objective, ACUINUGA carries out the following activities:
- Advice on the selection of new species for farming (eels, cod, catfish, sea bream, carp, gilthead seabream, sturgeon, sea bass, hake, grouper, snapper, tilapia, tuna, octopus and other cephalopods, high-yield bivalve molluscs, Penaeus-type crustaceans, shrimp, prawns, lobsters, crayfish, velvet crabs and crabs, etc.).
- The design of facilities for the reproduction and breeding of aquatic species (hatcheries and nurseries). Management of the import/export of seed stock for traditional species (ornamental species, mussels, clams, cockles, oysters, turbot, sole, salmon, trout, scallops, etc.), including the issuance of mandatory veterinary guides and certificates.
- Advice and training in the handling of breeding animals, particularly in anaesthesia and surgical techniques, and in the provision of specialised veterinary equipment and products (anaesthetics, tranquillisers, healing agents, surgical and obstetric equipment, etc.).
- Veterinary control of reproduction, and in particular the application of techniques for inducing and controlling egg-laying quality (hormonal induction, control of photoperiod and temperature, etc.).
- Monitoring of breeding stock by calculating morphometric parameters at the farm (gonadal-somatic index, calculations of laying quality, fertility and fecundity), sexing of breeding stock by ultrasound examination of the gonads and/or histological analysis of gonadal biopsies.
- The development of selection plans for specific breeding stock for each producer, and advice on the application of techniques for improving and controlling sexual maturation (generation of single-sex populations, polyploidisation, hybridisation).
