The Key Open Lab for Aquatic Genetic Resources and Aquaculture Ecology of the Ministry of Agriculture (formerly known as the Key Open Lab for Aquaculture Ecology and Physiology of the Ministry of Agriculture) was established with support of Shanghai Ocean University (former Shanghai Fisheries University). Since its foundation in 1993, the lab has begun to establish and gradually improve the theory system of aquatic genetic resources that reaches domestically or internationally advanced level, and conducted comprehensive research in identification, genetic improvement of germplasm property of aquatic animals and plants in different levels, such as the form, aquaculture property, biochemical genetics and molecular genetics, and developed a set of aquatic germplasm standard for evaluation and identification of germplasm of aquatic animals and plants.
The lab passed the fourth round of assessment of key open labs conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture on November 7, 2002, and was renamed The Key Open Lab for Aquatic Genetic Resources and Aquaculture Ecology of the Ministry of Agriculture. Among 84 key open labs receiving the assessment, this lab ranked 18th place, being the first place in Type B. In 2005, it passed the mid-stage assessment of the fourth round of construction of key open labs conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, ranking 19th place, and being first in Type B.
In the need of the discipline development and construction of national and local economy, this lab has aimed at the frontier of international aquaculture and actively adjusted its direction of research. It focuses on basic research for application, not only solving significant scientific and technical problems in development of national and regional aquaculture, but also training high-level special talented researchers for sustainable development of the aquaculture industry, and accomplishing first-class research achievements.
Currently, the research direction and major research contents of the lab cover innovation and utilization of the aquatic genetic resources (excavation and assessment of aquatic genetic resources, breeding and innovation of superior idioplasm, aquatic biological technology, and seedling project of the aquatic economic biology), ecosystem of aquaculture (evolution and manipulation of the ecosystem, aquaculture system of the facility fishery, development and maintenance of waterscape, maintenance and restoration of ecosystem) and safety in cultivation of aquatic animals and plants (diagnosis, forewarning and prevention of diseases, detection of pesticide residue and safety of aquatic products, nutrition and feed safety, optimization and management of safe aquaculture model).