# Embrapa edits tilapia genome in Santa Catarina: over 100 juveniles, goal of 50% more fillet

- Published: 2026-11-15 09:38 UTC
- Section: Life & Health › Biotechnology
- Tags: Embrapa tilapia gene editing, CRISPR/Cas9 fish, myostatin knockout, tilapia fillet yield, edited tilapia juveniles, Epagri Itajaí, pacu Y-shaped bones, Piaractus mesopotamicus, Bioparque Pantanal, fish gene editing Brazil
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-3def45f4d534ab85894c1d10_embrapa_edits_tilapia/

**Embrapa Fisheries and Aquaculture has begun CRISPR/Cas9 editing of tilapia at Epagri in Itajaí. The 50% fillet gain is a project target, not a measured result.**

![Embrapa edits tilapia genome in Santa Catarina: over 100 juveniles, goal of 50% more fillet](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/2a7d7ce32be22416.jpg)
*clickpetroleoegas.com.br*

Embrapa Pesca e Aquicultura has started editing tilapia DNA outside its own research centre, for the first time outside Tocantins, the organisation announced on Friday, 13 November 2026, as reported by clickpetroleoegas.com.br. The work is under way in Itajaí (Santa Catarina) together with the state agricultural research agency Epagri. The team has already obtained more than 100 edited tilapia juveniles from different crosses. [1]

## Myostatin knockout in tilapia

The method is CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Researchers knock out myostatin, a protein that regulates muscle growth, in order to increase the fish's muscle mass, that is, the fillet. The project's goal is at least 50% more fillet. This is a target, not a measured result: it can only be assessed once the new line has grown and been evaluated. [1]

Two Embrapa researchers and a postdoctoral fellow travelled to the Epagri station with all equipment and reagents. There they applied the technique to freshly fertilised tilapia eggs, assisted by the Santa Catarina team. Further injections were scheduled for the week after the announcement, according to Embrapa. [1]

Embrapa says it is the second institution in Brazil to use this technique to increase tilapia size. The laboratories involved hold a biosafety certificate and authorisation from the National Technical Biosafety Commission (CTNBio). According to researcher Fernanda O'Sullivan, Embrapa's own unit has limited space for other species, and the partnership allows the work to extend to new fish. [1]

The edited juveniles need ten months to reach reproductive maturity. Only then will they form the first generation of the new tilapia line. Embrapa states there is still no forecast for when edited tilapia and pacu will reach the production sector. [1]

## Pacu without Y-shaped bones

The same group is preparing a second project with the Pantanal pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus). It starts in the first week of December 2026 at the Bioparque Pantanal in Campo Grande (Mato Grosso do Sul). The goal is to eliminate the Y-shaped intermuscular bone. [1]

The research is funded by R$ 1 million from a parliamentary amendment by senator Tereza Cristina. The Mato Grosso do Sul state government, Embrapa Agropecuária Oeste and the Bioparque Pantanal are partners. [1]

Candidate genes of the pacu will be analysed at the Embrapa Pesca e Aquicultura centre. The team will then take reagents and microinjectors to Campo Grande. The fish will grow at the Bioparque and, after the fingerling stage, move to Embrapa Agropecuária Oeste, where researcher Tarcila Souza de Castro will follow their development. [1]

## Sources

1. [clickpetroleoegas.com.br](https://clickpetroleoegas.com.br/embrapa-tilapia-50-mais-file-mh14c-mhbb01)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-3def45f4d534ab85894c1d10_embrapa_edits_tilapia/