The global aquaculture genomics market was valued at USD 418.6 million in 2025. The market is estimated at USD 462.3 million in 2026 and is projected to reach USD 1.28 billion by 2036, at a CAGR of 10.7% during the forecast period 2026-2036. This report provides a detailed assessment of the market, covering farm output and disease losses, genomic selection, genotyping and sequencing technology, gene editing and its regulation, the breeding ecosystem, investment, cost per genotype, and future growth opportunities.
The market includes the products, services, and software that breeders and farms use to read and edit the DNA of farmed fish, crustaceans, and molluscs for better breeding, health, and output. It spans SNP arrays and targeted panels, sequencing of whole genomes, low-pass genomes, and transcriptomes, outsourced genotyping and genomic selection services, editing services, parentage, sex determination, and traceability testing, environmental DNA and pathogen genomics for farm health monitoring, and breeding and bioinformatics software. Broodstock and egg sales, vaccines and therapeutics, feed, PCR-only disease diagnostics without genomic analysis, and genomics used in wild fisheries management are outside the scope of the study.
The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024 report published by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recorded global aquaculture output of 130.9 million tonnes in 2022, of which 94.4 million tonnes were aquatic animals. According to FAO, farming overtook capture fisheries for the first time that year with 51% of aquatic animal production, and Asia supplied 70% of aquatic animal output. Because gains in growth, feed efficiency, and survival are multiplied across these volumes, the value of genetic improvement rises as farming intensifies.
Adoption is limited because much farming in Asia and Africa is done by small producers who use wild-caught or unimproved broodstock and cannot fund breeding programs. Many species still lack good reference genomes, validated SNP panels, and large phenotyped populations, and building them is hard to justify where volumes are small. Rules for gene-edited animals differ widely between countries, consumer and retailer acceptance of edited seafood is uncertain, and large-scale phenotyping, controlled disease challenge tests, and biosecurity requirements make breeding programs costly for smaller breeders.
Gene editing for disease resistance, growth, and sterility is a significant opportunity, as Regional Fish Co., Ltd. received Japanese approval in October and November 2021 to sell genome-edited red sea bream and tiger puffer, the first such fish on the market, and the Center for Aquaculture Technologies runs shrimp and finfish genetics innovation centers with genome editing capability. Genetic improvement programs for shrimp, tilapia, carp, and other tropical species, DNA-based parentage, traceability, and seafood authentication, and environmental DNA and pathogen sequencing for early outbreak warning offer further openings. Key trends include investment and consolidation among breeding companies, the move to low-cost genotyping with imputation, and the linking of genomic data with sensors, AI, and digital farm management.
By offering, the aquaculture genomics market is segmented into services, products, and software & bioinformatics. Services include genotyping, sequencing, genomic selection & breeding, and gene editing services, while products include genotyping arrays & panels, sequencing reagents & kits, and instruments. Services are expected to hold the largest share in 2026, as breeders and producers outsource genotyping, sequencing, and genomic evaluation instead of building in-house laboratories, and breeding companies such as Benchmark Genetics sell integrated genetic services alongside improved stock. Software & bioinformatics is projected to record the highest CAGR, supported by wider use of genomic prediction and imputation tools and by efforts to combine genomic data with farm performance and management records.
By technology, the aquaculture genomics market is segmented into SNP genotyping, sequencing, gene editing, and other technologies, with SNP genotyping split into arrays and genotyping-by-sequencing & targeted panels and sequencing split into whole-genome & low-pass and transcriptome sequencing. SNP genotyping leads in 2026, since breeders of salmon, shrimp, tilapia, and other species rely on it as the standard selection tool and also use it for parentage and traceability testing. Gene editing is set to grow the fastest, driven by the commercial sale of edited fish in Japan, trait development for disease resistance, growth, and sterility by developers such as the Center for Aquaculture Technologies, and rising spending by breeders on reproductive biotechnology.
By application, the aquaculture genomics market is segmented into genomic selection & breeding, disease resistance & health management, gene editing & trait development, parentage, sex determination & traceability, and environmental DNA & pathogen monitoring. Genomic selection & breeding holds the largest share in 2026, reflecting its routine use in leading breeding programs and its extension to new species. Gene editing & trait development is set to grow the fastest, as edited traits move from research into commercial products and more countries define approval routes for edited animals. Disease resistance & health management is also expected to grow strongly because disease remains one of the largest cost burdens in fish and shrimp farming.
By species, the aquaculture genomics market is segmented into salmonids, shrimp & crustaceans, tilapia, carps, marine finfish, molluscs, and other species. Salmonids are expected to hold the largest share in 2026, given the mature selection programs run by Atlantic salmon and trout breeders in Norway, Iceland, Chile, and elsewhere, the high value of salmon output, and the routine selection for disease resistance. Shrimp & crustaceans are projected to record the highest CAGR, as shrimp farming in Asia and Latin America is large and expanding, disease causes severe losses, and breeders are adding genomic selection and gene editing, as seen in the Center for Aquaculture Technologies' shrimp innovation center and the entry of Hendrix Genetics into shrimp breeding. Marine finfish such as sea bream and sea bass are another established area for genomic breeding in the Mediterranean.
By end user, the aquaculture genomics market is segmented into aquaculture breeding companies, fish & shrimp producers, research institutes & universities, and government & public agencies. Aquaculture breeding companies account for the largest share in 2026, because they run the genomic selection programs that create most demand for genotyping and evaluation services. Fish & shrimp producers are set to grow the fastest, as farms in Asia-Pacific and elsewhere take up genomic tools for parentage, traceability, disease monitoring, and choosing the right stock for their conditions.
Europe is expected to lead the global market in 2026, led by Norway, where advanced salmon and trout breeding programs are run by AquaGen, Mowi, and Benchmark Genetics, alongside programs in Iceland and the U.K. and strong aquaculture genetics research. Benchmark Genetics moved its head office to Bergen after its 2025 acquisition and is adding capacity in Norway and Iceland, and Hendrix Genetics is based in the Netherlands. Greece and Spain are key centers for selective breeding of sea bass and sea bream.
Asia-Pacific is projected to grow at the highest CAGR, supported by its dominant share of global aquatic animal output, large shrimp, tilapia, carp, and marine finfish industries, and growing use of genetically improved stocks. China is expected to be the largest market in the region, while India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand are expected to grow strongly on shrimp and tilapia farming. Japan was the first country to permit sales of edited fish, and Australian breeders run well-developed programs for oysters, prawns, and salmon. North America holds a significant share through its research base, genotyping and sequencing suppliers Illumina and Thermo Fisher Scientific, and the Center for Aquaculture Technologies' sites in San Diego and on Prince Edward Island. In Latin America, salmon farming in Chile and shrimp farming in Ecuador drive demand, and in the Middle East & Africa, where Egypt and Saudi Arabia are covered in detail, expanding farm output and genetic improvement of tilapia and other species support growth.
The fragmented aquaculture genomics market brings together specialist breeders, technology suppliers, service laboratories, editing developers, and research institutes, each focused on particular species and regions. Competition rests on the genetic gain that breeding programs deliver, the disease resistance and performance of stocks, cost per genotype, species-specific panel content, genomic prediction and bioinformatics strength, biosecurity, and access to gene editing. Leading players are investing in selection, phenotyping, editing, and reproductive biotechnology and entering new species and regions. Notable developments include the March 2025 purchase of Benchmark Genetics by Novo Holdings, the investment arm of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Hendrix Genetics' move into shrimp breeding, and Regional Fish's sale of edited fish in Japan, while Neogen's March 2026 deal to sell its livestock and companion animal genomics unit to Zoetis points to wider consolidation in animal genomics.
Key companies profiled in the report include Benchmark Genetics (Norway), Hendrix Genetics B.V. (Netherlands), AquaGen AS (Norway), Mowi ASA (Norway), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (U.S.), Illumina, Inc. (U.S.), LGC Limited (Biosearch Technologies) (U.K.), Center for Aquaculture Technologies (U.S.), and Regional Fish Co., Ltd. (Japan).
The market includes the products, services, and software that breeders and farms use to read and edit the DNA of farmed fish, crustaceans, and molluscs for better breeding, health, and output. It spans SNP arrays and targeted panels, sequencing of whole genomes, low-pass genomes, and transcriptomes, outsourced genotyping and genomic selection services, editing services, parentage, sex determination, and traceability testing, environmental DNA and pathogen genomics for farm health monitoring, and breeding and bioinformatics software. Broodstock and egg sales, vaccines and therapeutics, feed, PCR-only disease diagnostics without genomic analysis, and genomics used in wild fisheries management are outside the scope of the study.
The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024 report published by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recorded global aquaculture output of 130.9 million tonnes in 2022, of which 94.4 million tonnes were aquatic animals. According to FAO, farming overtook capture fisheries for the first time that year with 51% of aquatic animal production, and Asia supplied 70% of aquatic animal output. Because gains in growth, feed efficiency, and survival are multiplied across these volumes, the value of genetic improvement rises as farming intensifies.
Market Dynamics
Rising seafood demand and the steady expansion of fish and shrimp farming are major drivers of the aquaculture genomics market, as producers look for stocks that grow faster, convert feed better, and survive disease with limited land, water, and feed. Genomic selection is now routine in Norwegian salmon breeding at AquaGen, Mowi, and Benchmark Genetics and is spreading to trout, shrimp, tilapia, oysters, and Mediterranean sea bream and sea bass; because breeders genotype thousands of candidates in each generation and predict traits such as disease resistance and fillet quality from tested siblings, the method creates recurring demand. Heavy losses from sea lice and viral diseases in salmon and from white spot syndrome and acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) in shrimp add to the need for resistance breeding and pathogen surveillance. Low-density panels with imputation, genotyping-by-sequencing, and low-pass sequencing are cutting the cost per animal, which brings lower-value species such as tilapia, carp, and shrimp within reach.Adoption is limited because much farming in Asia and Africa is done by small producers who use wild-caught or unimproved broodstock and cannot fund breeding programs. Many species still lack good reference genomes, validated SNP panels, and large phenotyped populations, and building them is hard to justify where volumes are small. Rules for gene-edited animals differ widely between countries, consumer and retailer acceptance of edited seafood is uncertain, and large-scale phenotyping, controlled disease challenge tests, and biosecurity requirements make breeding programs costly for smaller breeders.
Gene editing for disease resistance, growth, and sterility is a significant opportunity, as Regional Fish Co., Ltd. received Japanese approval in October and November 2021 to sell genome-edited red sea bream and tiger puffer, the first such fish on the market, and the Center for Aquaculture Technologies runs shrimp and finfish genetics innovation centers with genome editing capability. Genetic improvement programs for shrimp, tilapia, carp, and other tropical species, DNA-based parentage, traceability, and seafood authentication, and environmental DNA and pathogen sequencing for early outbreak warning offer further openings. Key trends include investment and consolidation among breeding companies, the move to low-cost genotyping with imputation, and the linking of genomic data with sensors, AI, and digital farm management.
Segment Analysis
The report analyzes the market by offering, technology, application, species, end user, and geography, helping stakeholders identify the most attractive growth areas.By offering, the aquaculture genomics market is segmented into services, products, and software & bioinformatics. Services include genotyping, sequencing, genomic selection & breeding, and gene editing services, while products include genotyping arrays & panels, sequencing reagents & kits, and instruments. Services are expected to hold the largest share in 2026, as breeders and producers outsource genotyping, sequencing, and genomic evaluation instead of building in-house laboratories, and breeding companies such as Benchmark Genetics sell integrated genetic services alongside improved stock. Software & bioinformatics is projected to record the highest CAGR, supported by wider use of genomic prediction and imputation tools and by efforts to combine genomic data with farm performance and management records.
By technology, the aquaculture genomics market is segmented into SNP genotyping, sequencing, gene editing, and other technologies, with SNP genotyping split into arrays and genotyping-by-sequencing & targeted panels and sequencing split into whole-genome & low-pass and transcriptome sequencing. SNP genotyping leads in 2026, since breeders of salmon, shrimp, tilapia, and other species rely on it as the standard selection tool and also use it for parentage and traceability testing. Gene editing is set to grow the fastest, driven by the commercial sale of edited fish in Japan, trait development for disease resistance, growth, and sterility by developers such as the Center for Aquaculture Technologies, and rising spending by breeders on reproductive biotechnology.
By application, the aquaculture genomics market is segmented into genomic selection & breeding, disease resistance & health management, gene editing & trait development, parentage, sex determination & traceability, and environmental DNA & pathogen monitoring. Genomic selection & breeding holds the largest share in 2026, reflecting its routine use in leading breeding programs and its extension to new species. Gene editing & trait development is set to grow the fastest, as edited traits move from research into commercial products and more countries define approval routes for edited animals. Disease resistance & health management is also expected to grow strongly because disease remains one of the largest cost burdens in fish and shrimp farming.
By species, the aquaculture genomics market is segmented into salmonids, shrimp & crustaceans, tilapia, carps, marine finfish, molluscs, and other species. Salmonids are expected to hold the largest share in 2026, given the mature selection programs run by Atlantic salmon and trout breeders in Norway, Iceland, Chile, and elsewhere, the high value of salmon output, and the routine selection for disease resistance. Shrimp & crustaceans are projected to record the highest CAGR, as shrimp farming in Asia and Latin America is large and expanding, disease causes severe losses, and breeders are adding genomic selection and gene editing, as seen in the Center for Aquaculture Technologies' shrimp innovation center and the entry of Hendrix Genetics into shrimp breeding. Marine finfish such as sea bream and sea bass are another established area for genomic breeding in the Mediterranean.
By end user, the aquaculture genomics market is segmented into aquaculture breeding companies, fish & shrimp producers, research institutes & universities, and government & public agencies. Aquaculture breeding companies account for the largest share in 2026, because they run the genomic selection programs that create most demand for genotyping and evaluation services. Fish & shrimp producers are set to grow the fastest, as farms in Asia-Pacific and elsewhere take up genomic tools for parentage, traceability, disease monitoring, and choosing the right stock for their conditions.
Regional Analysis
The report covers Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa, spanning 21 countries and four rest-of-region groups. The regional analysis considers farmed output by species, the maturity of breeding programs, disease pressure, the presence of breeding companies and technology providers, and rules on gene-edited animals.Europe is expected to lead the global market in 2026, led by Norway, where advanced salmon and trout breeding programs are run by AquaGen, Mowi, and Benchmark Genetics, alongside programs in Iceland and the U.K. and strong aquaculture genetics research. Benchmark Genetics moved its head office to Bergen after its 2025 acquisition and is adding capacity in Norway and Iceland, and Hendrix Genetics is based in the Netherlands. Greece and Spain are key centers for selective breeding of sea bass and sea bream.
Asia-Pacific is projected to grow at the highest CAGR, supported by its dominant share of global aquatic animal output, large shrimp, tilapia, carp, and marine finfish industries, and growing use of genetically improved stocks. China is expected to be the largest market in the region, while India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand are expected to grow strongly on shrimp and tilapia farming. Japan was the first country to permit sales of edited fish, and Australian breeders run well-developed programs for oysters, prawns, and salmon. North America holds a significant share through its research base, genotyping and sequencing suppliers Illumina and Thermo Fisher Scientific, and the Center for Aquaculture Technologies' sites in San Diego and on Prince Edward Island. In Latin America, salmon farming in Chile and shrimp farming in Ecuador drive demand, and in the Middle East & Africa, where Egypt and Saudi Arabia are covered in detail, expanding farm output and genetic improvement of tilapia and other species support growth.
Competitive Landscape
The report provides a detailed review of the competitive landscape, covering key growth strategies, competitive benchmarking, the competitive dashboard, and market share/rank analysis by key player for 2025. Company profiles include business and financial overviews, aquaculture genomics portfolios, product portfolios, strategic developments, and SWOT analyses.The fragmented aquaculture genomics market brings together specialist breeders, technology suppliers, service laboratories, editing developers, and research institutes, each focused on particular species and regions. Competition rests on the genetic gain that breeding programs deliver, the disease resistance and performance of stocks, cost per genotype, species-specific panel content, genomic prediction and bioinformatics strength, biosecurity, and access to gene editing. Leading players are investing in selection, phenotyping, editing, and reproductive biotechnology and entering new species and regions. Notable developments include the March 2025 purchase of Benchmark Genetics by Novo Holdings, the investment arm of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Hendrix Genetics' move into shrimp breeding, and Regional Fish's sale of edited fish in Japan, while Neogen's March 2026 deal to sell its livestock and companion animal genomics unit to Zoetis points to wider consolidation in animal genomics.
Key companies profiled in the report include Benchmark Genetics (Norway), Hendrix Genetics B.V. (Netherlands), AquaGen AS (Norway), Mowi ASA (Norway), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (U.S.), Illumina, Inc. (U.S.), LGC Limited (Biosearch Technologies) (U.K.), Center for Aquaculture Technologies (U.S.), and Regional Fish Co., Ltd. (Japan).
How This Report Helps
- Provides reliable market size estimates and long-term forecasts for the global aquaculture genomics market.
- Explains how aquaculture growth, disease losses, and genomic selection practice shape demand for genotyping, sequencing, and breeding services.
- Assesses the impact of fragmented farming, limited genomic resources, phenotyping costs, and gene editing regulation.
- Identifies high-growth opportunities across offering, technology, application, species, end user, and region.
- Tracks gene editing, low-cost genotyping with imputation, environmental DNA monitoring, and digital farm integration.
- Benchmarks leading breeding companies and technology providers by portfolio, species coverage, and strategic developments.
- Supports investment, partnering, and market entry decisions for breeders, genomics suppliers, and investors.
Key Questions Answered
- How big is the global aquaculture genomics market today, and how will it grow through 2036?
- What are the main drivers, restraints, opportunities, challenges, and trends shaping the market?
- How is genomic selection spreading from salmon to shrimp, tilapia, and other species?
- How quickly will gene-edited fish and shrimp reach the market, and how do rules differ by country?
- Which offering, technology, application, species, and end-user segments will grow the fastest?
- Which regions and countries offer the most attractive business opportunities?
- Who are the leading companies in the market, and how do they compare on genetics, services, and technology?
- How are acquisitions and new investors reshaping the aquaculture breeding industry?
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Research Methodology
4. Market Overview
5. Aquaculture Genomics Market, by Offering
6. Aquaculture Genomics Market, by Technology
7. Aquaculture Genomics Market, by Application
8. Aquaculture Genomics Market, by Species
9. Aquaculture Genomics Market, by End User
10. Aquaculture Genomics Market, by Geography
11. Competitive Landscape
12. Company Profiles
13. Appendix
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
Companies Mentioned
- Benchmark Genetics
- Hendrix Genetics B.V.
- AquaGen AS
- Mowi ASA
- Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
- Illumina, Inc.
- LGC Limited
- Center for Aquaculture Technologies
- Regional Fish Co., Ltd.
