Insights with Ian: Surrogate Broodstock and Stem Cell Biology in Aquaculture
Fish gonads contain stem cells than can produce viable offspring when transplanted into sterile recipients (surrogates) of a related species. Surrogate broodstock technology (SBT) is transforming our scientific understanding of reproduction and sex determination and has important potential applications in conservation biology and aquaculture breeding. A recent publication from the Institute of Marine Research in […]
Xelect Welcomes Habitat as a New Genetics Partner for Coho (Silver) Salmon
Xelect is pleased to announce a new partnership with Habitat, an innovative aquaculture company focused on developing next-generation, land-based systems for salmon.Under this collaboration, Xelect will work with Habitat to deliver a bespoke breeding programme, supporting Habitat’s long‑term vision for sustainable, land‑based aquaculture. Founded in 2017, with its first production batch in 2018, Habitat has built its […]
Driving Aquaculture Genetic Innovation in Africa: A Strategic Visit to Rock Springs Fish Farm
Aquaculture in Africa is entering a critical growth phase. With rapidly expanding populations, increasing demand for affordable animal protein, and continued pressure on capture fisheries, the continent faces both a challenge and an opportunity: to scale sustainable, productive aquaculture systems that can supply high‑quality fish to regional markets. At Xelect, we believe genetics is a central […]
Insights with Ian: Welfare and Environmental Footprint of Farmed Salmon
Farmed salmon species constitute one of the most widely eaten and profitable seafoods globally. There are around 2.5 million tonnes of Atlantic salmon produced each year together with lesser amounts of the Pacific species. Recently, Field & Flower joined Abel & Cole in announcing that they have stopped sourcing salmon from open offshore net pen producers in […]
Introducing Dr Marie Smedley: Leading Xelect into the Future of Aquaculture Genetics
Dr Marie Smedley stepped into the role of Global Head of Xelect in mid-2025. While she’s been leading the team for several months, we’re excited to officially introduce her and share her vision for the future of Xelect. Marie brings extensive experience in aquaculture genetics and strategic leadership. With a strong academic foundation in marine […]
Insights with Ian: Making Aquaculture More Sustainable
Aquaculture now provides over half of global fisheries production and is essential for food security. As demand grows, sustainability becomes critical—balancing environmental, economic, and social factors. This month’s insight blog looks at what sustainable aquaculture means, the challenges ahead, and the innovations driving a more resilient future. Aquaculture has become an integral part of the […]
Insights with Ian: Selection vs. Modification? The Future of Genetics
In this edition of Insights with Ian, we dive into one of aquaculture’s most misunderstood topics: genetics. From pedigree-based section to genomic innovations, Ian explains how these strategies are shaping the next generation of fish farming and why understanding them is critical for staying competitive. Selection vs. Modification? The Future of Genetics This post deals […]
Insights with Ian: The Rise of Precision Aquaculture
Welcome to the first edition of Insights with Ian, a new blog series from Xelect’s founder and aquaculture visionary, Ian Johnston. Each month, Ian will dive into the technologies and trends shaping the future of aquaculture. In this issue, we take a closer look at the rise of precision aquaculture and its transformative impact on […]
Optimate: Powerful Software for Designing Aquaculture Breeding Programmes
Beyond Traditional Breeding: The Optimate Difference For centuries, selective breeding followed the same basic approach. Farmers selected the biggest and best performing animals, achieving incremental improvements over decades—often at the significant cost of inbreeding. This approach, while intuitive, has severe limitations in modern aquaculture where precision, speed and genetic diversity are paramount. Enter OptiMate—Xelect’s groundbreaking […]
Is Indoor Shrimp Farming Poised for a Breakthrough?
The global shrimp farming industry stands at a transformative moment.