This Small Business Innovation research Phase I project will determine the feasibility of selective breeding for white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) resistance in marine shrimp. Shrimp farming is the world's most valuable aquaculture sector with 1998 production of 760,000 MT worth more than $4 billion. The industry worldwide is suffering devastating losses (>$1 billion/year) from a viral disease known as White Spot Syndrome (WS). Nearly all of the industry outside of the U.S. depends on wild shrimp for seedstock that are often contaminated with WS virus and sensitive to its disease. The U.S. industry has suffered losses to WS since 1995. SPF shrimp stocks currently available to U.S. producers are extremely sensitive to WS. The commercial intent of this project is to develop a domesticated shrimp stock that has significant resistance to WSSV and is specific pathogen free (SPF). The project will be a collaboration between a shrimp breeding company, High Health Aquaculture (HHA) and the University of Arizona Aquaculture Pathology Lab (APL). HHA will undertake all of the shrimp reproduction and family production. APL will conduct the viral challenge tests on the select families and diagnostic evaluation of the stocks.
Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications of Research: Domestication of marine shrimp for farming is a foundation technology that will be essential to the industry's survival in the 21st century. An appropriate model is the successful U.S. poultry breeding industry. Development of a domesticated stock of shrimp that is resistant to White Spot Syndrome Virus is a substantial commercial opportunity with significant worldwide demand. WS-resistant shrimp will increase shrimp farming profitability and lower risk. We estimate an immediate market of $10 million per year for WS-resistant broodstock.
