Production of single-sex Atlantic cod stocks

Description

The long-term goal of this project is to develop practical methods for the production of single-sex (all-female and all-male) populations of Atlantic cod for commercial aquaculture, either as fertile diploids or for integration into production plans for all-female populations of sterile triploids.

In order to attain this goal, we will first determine the genetic mechanism of sex determination in Atlantic cod. To develop protocols to produce any stocks of single-sex fish, the genetic mechanism of sex determination for that particular species must be determined. Knowing the mechanism of sex determination in Atlantic cod will inform us of the best endocrine protocols to use to produce single-sex populations of cod.

Secondly, we will develop direct endocrine sex reversal protocols for Atlantic cod. Indirect techniques will be used where all-female populations will be produced by first masculinizing genotypic females and then crossing these "neomales" with normal females to yield all-female offspring.

Program Name

Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP)

Year(s)

2009 to 2012

Ecoregion(s)

Atlantic: Gulf of St. Lawrence, St. Lawrence Estuary

Principal Investigator(s)

Debbie Martin-Robichaud
Email: Debbie.Martin-Robichaud@dfo-mpo.gc.ca