“Conducting Marine Biotechnology Research employing modern genomic technologies for advancing aquaculture and the restoration of endangered marine species for feeding future generations from the sea."
The leadership at Catalina Sea Ranch, LLC, formed Catalina BioTech to conduct research for genetic innovations that improve marine animal health and welfare and better productivity traits for marine aquaculture. This research promises to result in sustainably produced, responsibly grown, and healthier marine crops to increase our global food system.
Catalina BioTech intends to employ bioengineering for precision breeding with new gene editing technologies and techniques that have the potential to accelerate the natural breeding process. These accelerated improvements in genetics have the potential to double or triple productivity in sustainable and regenerative marine crops.
Catalina BioTech has teamed with leading scientists recognizing the potential for applying recent genomic advances with humans and livestock to the aquaculture industry. There has been minimal marine genomic research on mollusks and macroalgae, which are among the most lucrative and sustainable species in the global seafood industry having a multi-billion-dollar value. Therefore, unlike terrestrial livestock breeding programs that have been around for decades, the variability has not been “bred out” presenting the opportunity for making major genetic gains for global food security and the restoration of diminishing wild stocks
The Catalina BioTech scientific team envisions genetic discovery as a means to improve production values, health, environmental resilience and other important qualities in molusk and macroalgae marine crops. The near term goal is to establish the base genomes for California’s native Abalone, Giant kelp and Purple Hinge Rock Scallop. The longer term goal is to conduct precision breeding research for improving genetics, performance, and health for increasing supplies of sustainable marine crops.