Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project (ZAEDP): Genetic improvement program

Abstract

With technical support from WorldFish, the government of Zambia is implementing a genetic improvement program (GIP) for the indigenous three-spotted tilapia (Oreochromis andersonii) (Plate 1) under the Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project (ZAEDP).The duration of the ZAEDP is 5 years, from 2017 to 2022. However, the GIP only commenced later in 2019. The GIP addresses key constraints in the aquaculture industry, including poor quality seed associated with slow growth and low survival, especially among indigenous species. The GIP for three-spotted tilapia aims to improve the growth rate, harvest weight and survival of the species, which are key desirable traits in aquaculture contributing to increased productivity and profitability.