Breeding and Seed Production of Aquaculture Species in Bangladesh: Current Status, Challenges and Prospects

Abstract

Aquaculture has become one of the fastest‐growing food production sectors in Bangladesh and contributes significantly to food security, nutrition, livelihoods and the national economy. In Bangladesh, aquaculture mainly relies on the culture of major carps, catfishes and shrimp, which are also widely farmed across Asia and other parts of the world. This review aims to synthesize the current status of breeding and seed production in Bangladesh, identify key technical and institutional challenges and highlight priority actions to ensure sustainable and resilient aquaculture development. An integrative review was conducted using peer‐reviewed literature, government statistics and grey sources related to hatchery practices, broodstock management, genetics, health and biosecurity and policy frameworks. The findings indicate that Bangladesh's aquaculture seed supply is now heavily dependent on hatcheries, with private hatcheries producing about 97% of total seed, while public hatcheries primarily contribute to research, conservation and seed distribution in remote areas. However, seed quality remains inconsistent because of poor broodstock management, repeated use of limited brood lines, weak genetic record‐keeping, inadequate biosecurity and limited disease diagnostics. These constraints contribute to genetic erosion, slower growth, reduced survival, disease outbreaks and lower hatchery productivity. The review further indicates that shortages of trained personnel, limited adoption of modern technologies, weak seed certification systems and poor regulatory enforcement continue to restrict sustainable hatchery development. Overall, the long‐term growth of aquaculture in Bangladesh will depend on improving broodstock quality, conserving genetic resources, strengthening hatchery health management and ensuring effective governance. Practical priorities include establishing broodstock traceability systems, expanding seed certification, improving biosecurity and diagnostic capacity, promoting selective breeding and climate‐resilient hatchery technologies and strengthening public‐private collaboration. These measures can improve seed quality, enhance aquaculture productivity and support food security in Bangladesh, while also offering useful lessons for other aquaculture‐producing countries facing similar hatchery and seed‐system challenges.