Abstract:Carassius is a polyploid Carassius species complex. It includes sexual C. auratus and the domesticated goldfish with 100 chromosomes, as well as unisexual C. gibelio with more than 150 or 200 chromosomes. They are not only a kind of important aquaculture fish, but also a rare group of vertebrates with different ploidies, providing a potential opportunity for studying evolutionary mechanisms of unisexual polyploids. This study attempts to review the specificities and innovative insights of unisexual C. gibelio in evolutionary genetics and genomic anatomy, especially recent significant breakthroughs in precise breeding, and thereby summarizes the genetic improvement experiences, so as to further explore future development for aquaculture genetic breeding and seed industry.

Abstract:Currently, China’s aquaculture industry is mainly based on aquaculture, supplemented by fishing. In 2022, freshwater aquaculture accounted for 47.91% of aquatic production, marine aquaculture accounted for 33.14%, and fishing accounted for 18.94%. In aquaculture, the yield of fish farming accounted for 52.16%, showing a pivotal position. “Improved seed, healthy aquaculture and high-quality sales” are the three important components of the aquaculture industry. “Improved seed” is the leading part of the aquaculture industry, “healthy aquaculture” is the guarantee of the aquaculture industry, and “high-quality sales” links such as processing and sales are the important driving force for the development of the aquaculture industry. Since the 1950s, China’s aquaculture industry has made great progress, which has provided rich aquatic products for the broad masses of people and solved the problem of “difficulty in eating fish”. However, at present, in China’s aquaculture industry, there are problems such as having varieties but with imperfect market and insufficient industrialization or having an industry but no high-quality varieties, and the problem of “eating good fish” and “eating safe fish” has not been fundamentally solved. In order to accelerate the development of China’s aquaculture industry, the authors believe that it is necessary to establish and implement a system of improved seed, healthy aquaculture and high-quality sales, so as to contribute to the high-quality development of the aquaculture industry in our country.

Abstract:Sex-controlled breeding is a powerful technique in aquaculture organisms. China has made great progress in sex determination research and sex-controlled breeding in fish in the last 20 years. Firstly, the authors reviewed the research history of sex-specific molecular markers in fish in China, including the exploration period (2001-2006), breakthrough period (2007-2012) and rapid development period (2013-2023). Especially in the breakthrough period, the research and development of sex-specific markers for Cynoglossus semilaevis and Pelteobagrus fulvidraco, which provided important technical means for sex determination research and sex-controlled breeding of fish in China. Secondly, the research progress of molecular marker-assisted sex-controlled breeding was introduced. Sex-specific molecular markers have been used to breed new fish species, such as C. semilaevis "Tayou No.1", P. fulvidraco “Quanxiong No.1”, which greatly promoted the research on sex-controlled breeding of fish in China. Finally, the author prospected the future development direction of sex-specific molecular marker screening and marker-assisted sex-controlled breeding in China, and proposed research focuses on fish sex-controlled breeding in fish in the future. The paper will have important significance for sex determination research and sex-controlled breeding of fish in China.

Abstract:The large-scale seaweed cultivation industry is one of the most active sectors in global fisheries. Over the past two decades, its growth rate has been more than twice that of the overall fisheries industry, indicating significant growth potential. China dominates this industry, accounting for 59% of the world's total seaweed production, including Laminaria japonica, Undaria pinnatifida, Pyropia/Porphyra spp., Gracilaria spp., and Hizikia fusiformis, with the highest production volumes globally. The aquatic seed industry serves as the "core" of aquaculture and the source of the entire industry. Approximately 99% of large-scale seaweed production are from artificial cultivation, highlighting the contribution and importance of new seaweed varieties to the industry. However, there are currently only 24 approved new varieties of large-scale seaweed, representing about 17% of new aquatic species for marine cultivation, which is not proportionate to its production share. Therefore, the present paper introduces the characteristics of the large-scale seaweed industry, the progress in breeding technology over the past 60 years, and the breeding achievements. It also offers recommendations to address the current challenges of outdated breeding techniques in the large-scale seaweed industry, aiming to provide insights for future research in seaweed breeding.

Abstract:Ensuring national food security and practicing the Integrated Food Security Thought are of extreme significance. The freshwater aquaculture industry plays an irreplaceable role in optimizing the dietary structure of Chinese residents and improving human nutritional and health levels. In order to clarify the problems in the development of freshwater aquaculture and explore strategies for the high-quality development of China's freshwater aquaculture industry, this paper summarizes the breeding methods and types of freshwater aquaculture in the 2013-2022 "China Fisheries Statistical Yearbook", and analyzes pond aquaculture, large surface ecological aquaculture, and rice fishing comprehensive breeding The development trend of China's freshwater aquaculture industry, represented by five main aquaculture models, including modern environmental protection facilities, fisheries, and saline alkali water aquaculture, was analyzed, and the challenges faced by the high-quality development of China's freshwater aquaculture industry were summarized. On this basis, from five aspects: expansion of aquaculture space, modernization of aquaculture, self-sufficiency of aquatic species, disease prevention and control, and product processing and transformation, exploratory directions for the high-quality development of China's freshwater aquaculture industry are proposed. Furthermore, measures to ensure the high-quality development of China's freshwater aquaculture industry are proposed from five dimensions: national policies, technological progress, talent team, technology promotion, and financial funds. This paper may provide reference for the transformation of the structure of China's freshwater aquaculture industry and the realization of green, healthy, and high-quality development.

Abstract:Megalobrama amblycephala is one of the main freshwater aquaculture species in China, with the advantages of wide feed habits, low culture cost, rapid growth performance, high survival rate, and easy to farm and harvest. M. amblycephala has the characteristics of delicious flavour, high rate of edible meat, good body shape, etc., which are popular among consumers and have made an important contribution to increasing high-quality aquatic animal protein supply, improving the nutritional health of the nation, and guaranteeing the food security in China. This review summarizes the progress of the current researches and developments on whole industrial technology of M. amblycephala, including innovations on breeding technology, nutritional regulation and feeding technology, ecological prevention technology from aquaculture stress and disease, health farming technology, nutritional quality and processing technologies, etc.. Based on the progresses, the industrial development requirements and research directions on germplasm resources excavation with production performance, excellent disease and stress resistance, and suitable for processing, the establishment of intensive healthy breeding mode and precise nutritional supply, ecological prevention technology innovation, high-quality processing and conditioning technology are proposed. This review is expected to provide references for the green, high-quality and sustainable development of the whole industrial chain of M. amblycephala.

Abstract:Pond aquaculture is a traditional method of mariculture in China, and it is also the main current land-based mariculture. Since the 1970s, seawater pond aquaculture has gone through a development process of extensive, semi-intensive, intensive, and multi-nutrient ecological aquaculture, forming a development pattern of multiple types, modes, and formats. However, there are still key problems in the current pond aquaculture industry, such as unclear ecological adaptability mechanisms of aquaculture organisms, unstable output of aquaculture systems, and low efficiency in nutrient utilization, which seriously restrict the development of pond aquaculture industry. We carried out an analysis of the interaction mechanism between improved varieties of marine aquaculture shrimp and crab and the ecological environment, developed technologies for optimizing the structure of aquaculture ecosystems, efficiently utilizing nutrient resources, established a platform for aquaculture information collection and intelligent control, created a new model of ecological engineering aquaculture, improved the efficiency of nutrient utilization, and achieved efficient and sustainable output of the aquaculture system, which may provide important theoretical basis and technical support for the green and quality development of pond aquaculture industry in China.

Abstract:In recent years, China's marine ranching has developed rapidly, and 169 national marine ranching demonstration zones have been built. However, in the development of science and technology and industry, it also faces a series of theoretical, equipment and technology problems to be broken through. Japan and other countries started the construction of marine ranching earlier and achieved remarkable results in continuous promotion. This paper compares the development process of marine ranching in China and abroad from the perspectives of construction concept, construction technology, industrial model, development prospect and technical bottleneck, summarizes the key scientific problems and core equipment technologies that need to be broken through in the development prospect of marine ranching, and strives to provide scientific countermeasures for promoting the sustainable and efficient development of modern marine ranching.

Abstract:Marine ranching is a fishing model based on the principle of ecosystem. It constructs or repairs habitats for marine organisms to reproduce, grow, feed or keep safe in specific sea areas through constructing artificial reefs and stock enhancement, proliferates and maintains fishery resources, improves the marine ecological environment, and achieves sustainable utilization of fishery resources. In recent years, while the marine ranching is developing rapidly, it is also facing many challenges, which greatly restricts its healthy development. In the process of constructing marine ranching, construction of habitat like artificial reefs, as well as stock enhancement, has played important roles in resource conservation and aquatic product output. They are also considered key to improve the marine ecological environment and achieve sustainable utilization of biological resources. However, the placement of artificial reefs and stock enhancement in marine ranching can bring a series of physical, chemical, and biological disturbances to the ecosystem. The effects and manifestations of these artificial disturbances are diverse, and will they become the expected gain interference? Will inappropriate habitat construction or excessive stock enhancement reduce ecological carrying capacity, cause habitat degradation, and alter the composition of communities and carbon cycling patterns? The current basic theories on habitat construction and stock enhancement are weak, and the stability and anti-interference ability of ecosystems are unclear. Especially, little is known about the structure and functional implementation process of small-scale marine ranching ecosystems, as well as their ecological carrying capacity. Therefore, it is urgent to carry out theoretical verification and quantitative research on the environmental effects of artificial reefs and other habitats, as well as the resource replenishment effects of stock enhancement, in order to fully understand the duality of these artificial disturbances. This article digs into over 90 relevant papers and briefly reviews the domestic and international advances on the effects of constructing artificial reef habitats in aspects of hydrodynamic characteristics, migration of biogenic elements, mechanism of community assembly, and ecosystem stability assessment. Emphasis was placed on the complexity and dynamics of the small-scale marine ranching ecosystem structure, with focus on how the layout of artificial reefs affects the evolution of the hydrodynamic environment, sediment, and biogenic elements in the ranching areas, as well as the mechanisms of species coexistence under artificial disturbances such as stock enhancement. Focusing on key issues such as the stability and anti-interference ability of marine ranching ecosystems, this article explores the shortcomings and development directions of current researches from four aspects: hydrodynamic driving conditions, biogenic elements characterization, community assembly, and ecosystem health assessment. This provides a reference basis for the construction of artificial reefs, seaweed beds, and other ecological habitats in marine ranching, as well as the optimization of resource restoration models.

Abstract:The inshore waters are the major spawning, nursery and feeding grounds of many fishery species, as well as the important fishing grounds, indicating that they are integral for the recruitment of fish stock and sustainable yield in sea granary of China. The inshore fisheries constitute 80%-90% of marine fisheries catches, playing an indispensable role in securing seafood supply, augmenting fishermen’s income and bolstering the marine economy of coastal regions. Since the founding of China, focusing on the key scientific and technological issues on the sustainable utilization of marine living resources, Chinese scientists have carried out a series of research on fishery resources, including fisheries resources surveys and stock assessment, basic research and applied basic research, development of technologies and so on, and gained a series of innovative achievements. The emphasis on fisheries resources research correlates closely with fisheries resources exploitation and fishery industry development. Aligning with the national fishery developmental strategies across different epochs, this paper systematically retraces the four developmental phases of inshore fisheries resources research since the 1950s: the nascent-development phase, the rapid growth phase, the integrated research phase and the new developmental phase. We delineate their distinct characteristics, primary research focus, and advancements in survey equipment and platform construction. Moreover, the paper collates China's progress and seminal findings in areas such as dynamics of fish populations, fishing ground exploration, efficient utilization of fisheries resources, technological development for fisheries resources survey and stock assessment, establishment of scientifically regulated aquatic conservation systems and dynamics of marine ecosystem. These findings greatly contributed to Chinese inshore fishery industry development, as well as the regulations and policies adjustment of fisheries management and conservation. The paper accentuates the future research imperative of embracing multidisciplinary studies and comprehensive surveys. It calls for a profound understanding of the mechanisms and processes governing fishery ecosystem structures and functions, and advocates the integration of economic and social dimensions in devising innovative resource utilization and management strategies. This holistic approach, epitomized by “protecting during development and developing during protection”, aims to bolster the implementation of conservation-oriented inshore fishery industry and champion the high-quality growth of the fishery sector in China.

Abstract:China has the world’s largest industry of fishing and aquaculture (defined here as “fishery”). China is the world’s largest producer, consumer, processor, and exporter of aquatic products, with a production of >68 million tonnes in 2022. China alone contributes more than 60% of global aquaculture volume. Aquaculture accounts for 80% of domestic fish production in China. Fishery industry plays an important role in ensuring national food security and nutritional security, particularly, in meeting the demand of high-quality protein. Whereas, with the fast expanding of aquaculture in the last three decades in both inland and coastal waters, the ecological effects of aquaculture, i.e., the possible impacts of aquaculture on the environments of aquaculture waters and its adjacent waters are receiving widespread attention from a variety of stakeholders. The discipline of fishery ecology and environment focuses on the interactions of aquaculture and environments, particularly the impacts of fisheries activities on natural water ecosystems, as well as the impacts of climate change and human activities on sustainable production of aquatic products, and their influences on ecological and environmental characteristics of fishery waters. Also, it focuses on the scientific theories and technologies of bio-remediation and restoration of degraded fishery habitats and aquatic ecosystems. Here, we summarized the main progresses made in this discipline in the past ten years and proposed the key points which should be paid attention to or further investigated in the future. Our aim is to provide an overview on the current status of ecological and environmental characteristics of fishery waters and draw more attention from both scientists and public on related research.

Abstract:Mollusc aquaculture contributes dominantly to the aquaculture industry in China, which plays an increasingly significant role in the development of economy, society and ecology, including promoting economic and social development, employment, as well as improving living standards of the people and protection of ecological environment. However, the outbreaks of mollusc diseases have resulted in substantial economic losses, which has seriously threatened the development of green and high-quality aquaculture industry. As molluscs lack adaptive immunity and are usually cultured in open or semi-open waters, it is difficult to prevent and control the diseases through environmental management or vaccine injection. The development of “green prevention” strategy and disease warning system is vital for the sustainable aquaculture. This article summarizes the current status of mollusc aquaculture and disease occurrence, and proposes the strategies for disease prevention and control. This review will provide reference for improving the disease control capabilities of aquaculture, ensuring the supply of aquatic products, and promoting the development of high-quality aquaculture industry.

Abstract:Interferons (IFNs) are a class of cytokines with pleiotropic immunological and biological functions, such as antiviral, antibacterial and immunomodulatory functions. In vertebrates, IFNs play pivotal roles in innate immune system, and can also coordinate effective adaptive immunity. Up to now, four types of IFNs, i.e., type I, type II, type III and type IV IFNs, have been reported in vertebrates. As a diversified lineage of vertebrates, fish represents the earliest group of vertebrates to possess well-defined and complicated IFN systems, and they are considered as important for the study of composition, function, and evolution of IFN systems. According to phylogenetic relationships, fish type I IFNs are classified into eight subgroups, namely IFNa - IFNf, IFNh and IFNi, which selectively use different receptor complexes to induce the production of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) through the conserved JAK/STAT signaling pathway, thereby exerting their biological functions, such as antiviral and antibacterial activities. Two members of type II IFNs, IFN-γ and IFN-γrel exist in fish, and they can use CRFB13/CRFB6 and CRFB17 to transfer signaling through STAT1, respectively. Type III IFNs and their receptor subunits have been identified in cartilaginous fish, although not in teleost fish. Type IV IFN is a new IFN identified recently in fish and primitive mammals, which has a significant antiviral function with receptors consisting of CRFB12 and CRFB4. In this report, the current achievements of type I, type II, type III and type IV IFNs in fish were reviewed in respect to gene structure, classification and nomenclature, receptor composition and usage, signaling pathway, and immunological function. Contributions from Chinese scientists on fish IFN composition and nomenclature, receptor usage and signaling, crystal structure, functional specialty, and new IFN finding were summarized. The possible future direction was also proposed in relation with the research on fish IFN systems in this article. It is expected that this article will contribute to systematic understanding of fish IFN system, and may also provide information for potential application of IFNs in antiviral and antibacterial practice in aquaculture.

Abstract:Fish diseases caused by parasites are considered one of the major causes of mortality in aquaculture, which can harm fish of various life stages from juvenile to adult fish. The study of fish diseases in China just started from the identification of a flagellated parasite Cryptobia branchiaslis Nie, 1955, which caused severe disease and death of grass carp fingerlings. During the past seventy years (1953-2023), China has made tremendous achievements in fish parasitology and formed a complete scientific system. In this paper, seventy years of research progress and achievements of freshwater fish parasitology in China are reviewed from four aspects, including pathogenic biology, ecology, pharmacology, and immunology. Prospects for future development trends and cutting-edge hotspots are also discussed herein. This article provides readers majoring in fish parasitology and other related fields with comprehensive materials to fully understand the history, current status, and future development trends of fish parasitology in China.

Abstract:Aquaculture equipment is an important technical support for the efficient development of modern aquaculture and the promotion of structural reform in the aquaculture industry. The intelligent aquaculture model based on the collaborative efforts of multiple disciplines such as aquaculture equipment, information technology, and automatic control, has become a new trend and an important lever for the high-quality development of modern fisheries, which also puts forward higher intelligent requirements for the existing equipment and related technologies of aquaculture. This article summarizes the current development status of five main aquaculture methods and equipment, including pond, factory, cage, raft, and bottom sowing aquaculture. From the perspectives of digitization and intelligence, it analyzes the research progress of commonly used equipment in aquaculture processes such as environmental monitoring, object perception, feeding, and graded counting. It points out the key issues that restrict the development of intelligent equipment and technology in aquaculture in China, A new concept of "mechanization, automation, and intelligence" for the development of aquaculture equipment and technology has been proposed, aiming to achieve the historical transformation of China from a major aquaculture country to a strong aquaculture country.

Abstract:The modern marine fishing industry utilizes advanced technologies, including ships, machinery, information systems, and new materials to fish marine catch and to process and sell fishing products directly. The development and innovation of marine fishing equipment and technology play a crucial role in ensuring food security, protecting the coastal ecology and resources, achieving fishermen's income growth and new fishing village construction, promoting the adjustment and transformation of the fishery industry structure, and maintaining our country's marine rights and interests. This article focuses on the research progress in areas such as acoustic detection for marine fishing, innovation in marine fishing gear, and efficient intelligent fishing methods. It proposes development directions for marine fishing equipment and technology. These efforts aim to provide a reference for our country's marine fishing industry to achieve energy-efficient, eco-friendly, and sustainable resource use.

Abstract:The processing and circulation of aquatic products is a key link in achieving high-quality development of fisheries, playing an important role in ensuring the high-quality and safe supply of aquatic products throughout the year, and promoting the implementation of the national "Food Safety Strategy" and "Healthy China Strategy". After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the technology of aquatic product processing and circulation continued to progress, and the industry developed rapidly through independent innovation, technology introduction, digestion, and absorption. The world's most complete aquatic processing system was formed, including frozen and refrigerated aquatic products, fish mince products, leisure food, dried products, canned food, seaweed food, aquatic feed, and biological product processing, as well as a rapidly developing aquatic product circulation system with wholesale markets as the main body and e-commerce as new logistics model. This article analyzes the role of aquatic products in providing essential nutrients such as high-quality protein and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, balancing the dietary structure of residents and reducing the production pressure of terrestrial animal foods; it also systematically summarizes the current situation, existing problems, and development direction of China's aquatic product processing and circulation industry technology development. New measures have been proposed to ensure the high-quality development of China's aquatic product processing and circulation industry, such as “building a consumption guided processing, processing led aquaculture modern fishery industry system, ensuring food safety”, “ building a tiered processing and utilization technology system for aquatic products, ensuring the safe and high-quality supply of aquatic products”, “building a precise processing technology system for the functional components of aquatic products, and promoting the implementation of the healthy China strategy”.