Reproduction and Breeding in Marine Fish

A stable and predictable supply of gametes of defined quality is a major bottleneck in the production of marine fish, and the development of breeding programs. The proposed Strategic Institute Program aims to increase the knowledge on reproductive physiol ogy during final maturation and spawning in halibut and cod, and thereby to establish a fundament for development of efficient breeding programs. Modern molecular techniques will be applied both in the study of the regulation of reproduction and to evalua te material and paternal effects on gamete and larval viability. Molecular genetics will also be implied together with modern quantitative genetics in studies on genetic improvement of halibut and cod. The proposed research activities of part 1 focus on the endocrine regulation of final oocyte maturation, and on pre- and postovulatory molecular events in eggs and ovarian fluid that are related to egg viability and fertilization. Part 2 is focused on genetic improvement of halibut and cod, by use of mole cular as well as modern quantitative genetics. A highly merited international network will be established, to ensure that methods used are updated and that the young scientists recruited will get the bestpossible training and support.