The Israeli expert, Dr. Gideon Hulata of Agricultural Research Organization, was invited to visit Taiwan on 1st March 2010. He gave an excellent speech to the researchers in Fisheries Research Institute (FRI) and faculty fellows in universities, in the title “Current status of biology, genetics and selective breeding of tilapia”. The staff in the Freshwater Aquaculture Research Center, FRI, made enthusiastic discussions with him. Dr. Hulata also visited the Changhua Fishery Association, National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, the Mariculture Research Center and Tungkang Biotechnology Center, FRI, and exchanged information with the relative staffs. He was impressed by the success cultivate of tilapia, eel, cold-water fish, mullet, groupers and white shrimp in Taiwan after his visits on aqua-farms. He made constructive suggestions regarding the bilateral cooperative projects on developing organic aquaculture before his leave on 8th march.
The major conclusions in the group discussion are as follows. First, exchange of genetic material was discussed: Oreochromis aureus from Israel to be transferred to Taiwan and O. hornorum transferred from Taiwan to Israel. Second, FRI is interested in launching a research project entitled "Genetics of sex determination in Nile tilapia in Taiwan". Collaboration with ARO team, represented by Prof. Hulata, will include methodological support, guidance and short-term training. Third, Taiwanese researchers would be welcomed if sent for training in the aquaculture and genomic laboratories at the Institute of Animal Science (ARO).