Aquaculture And Fisheries

Biotechnology contributes to current or potential uses of marine products with in the areas of:

Cultivation & Conservation of marine ecosystems

Therapeutics/medicines

Aquatic animal health and seafood safety

Biomedical analysis

Algae cultivation 

The Ocean It covers virtually three fourths of our planet and has the potential to feed the planet and provide cures for several diseases. Studying sea plants and animals is a challenge that is becoming easier due to advanced technologies like deep-sea submersibles, sonar, lasers, videos, and satellites.

Biotechnology provides chances for improving the health of aquatic organism and the safety of the food supply. More than 50 diseases affect fish and cause millions of dollars in losses each year. Many molecular probes assays are being developed for detecting bacteria, viruses and parasites that infect fish and shellfish. A hand-held antibody test kit has been developed to detect Vibrio cholera, the virus that causes cholera, in oysters Moreover, specific marine bacteria have been developed that can aid in the offensive effort if a toxic spill should occur; thus biotechnology can help society by protecting the environment as well.  Biotechnologists are also interested in developing vaccines for Disease causing agents that pose threats to fish cultivated by aquaculture, Aquatic biotechnologists are also working to detect contaminated seafood by identifying genes with encoded toxins.