Ex Situ Conservation: Status, Strategies and Challenges

Sustainable use of genetic resources is a pressing priority for ensuring food security, nutrition, and livelihood to a large section of the population. Ex situ conservation tools, which mainly focus on “off-site preservation of biological material”, have become popular for preserving genetic resources from harmful anthropogenic activities as well as natural disasters and conserving genetic diversity through sustainable utilization of the resources. Genetic variation is crucial for the long-term survival of the species. The aim of ex situ conservation is not only to preserve the species in captivity but also to maintain its genetic makeup for eventual release back into the wild. The development of genomics and associated molecular markers has boosted genetic conservation efforts by enabling us to compute and determine the genetic variability, population structure, genetic bottlenecks, associated historical events, and phylogeographic relationships. Captive breeding-assisted conservation programs are one of the most important ex situ conservation methods. Other methods include conservation programs in aquariums, live gene banks, milt cryopreservation, cell lines, etc. Ex situ approach makes biological material available for conservation education and display, generating awareness as well as long-term interest in the general public about the need for germplasm conservation. Such conservation requires a multi-stakeholder approach with the participation of all, like local communities, subject matter specialists, policymakers, government institutions, NGOs, and the general public. India, with its vast biological diversity, is well dignified to lead ex situ conservation plans for sustainable management of aquatic genetic resources.