**9. The challenge of making viable the use of cryopreserved semen in Brazil**

The first question to be asked is: Are there any germplasm banks in Brazil? Yes, there are! They began to be formed in the 1980s by Professor Hugo Godinho and the visit of two Canadian researchers, Brian Harvey and Joachim Carolsfeld, who started extensive work with Brazilian researchers. Among their actions, they have developed cryoprotocols for some species, already recorded in this chapter [7]. For over 30 years some banks of native species semen were formed and has been used mainly as deposit of genetic material for research at universities laboratories and other ones as genetic reserve for restocking (personal communication from: Bombardelli, R.; Maria, A.N.; Murgas, L.D.; Ninhaus-Silveira, A.; Resende, E.K.; Ribeiro, R.P.; Streit Jr., D.P., and Viveiros, A.).

A relevant question concerns the active use of germplasm banks in the country, either for commercial purposes (fish farming) or conservation. Popularize the use of cryopreserved fish semen in the country as far as the use of bovine or equine semen, for instance, is still far away. Some conditions are crucial to this fact: the culture of fingerlings producers not to use a germplasm bank; have actually consistent cryopreservation protocols that can be used effectively; unfamiliarity of the market to absorb the product (frozen semen) and especially the real need for the use of cryopreserved semen in fingerling production farms.

Almost all Brazilian farms are unaware of the genetic characteristics of their broodstocks. Thus, there would be no sense to use semen from another location without any objective criteria to explore genetic gain. Moreover, it is significant that most of the Brazilian migratory species present reproductive asynchrony in captivity. It is quite common to note that at the end of reproductive season there is availability of mature females but not males. Thereby, the germplasm bank could meet this need. However, what is the cost to maintain a germplasm bank? There would be any market demand? Are there concluding protocols ready, tested, and efficient to be used for the main migratory species that are farmed? The last question is not that simple to answer. The quality parameters from cryopreserved semen still vary widely. From this reflection, we must establish priority in research in order to meet the demands, even if they are as wide as the number of species that make up our ichthyofauna. Focus research efforts to establish a secure protocol for commercial application purposes should be a goal.

The germplasm bank significantly facilitates the establishment of a breeding program for fish [55]. Surely, the semen distribution from known strain animals will contribute to spread of genebanks and there may be a specific market to the product cryopreserved semen. We believe that in the future the industry will be aged enough to realize it, especially those fingerlings buyers that will seek fish with known pedigree, even if it is necessary to pay a little more for them. Soon, the company that offers high-quality genetic material can explore this market.

Regarding germplasm banks with restocking purposes, most are circumstantial. They have been created through research and development (R&D) projects, largely in partnership with electric power companies. These gene banks are maintained while the project is running and later are reduced to a small number of samples (as a collection), especially due to maintenance costs. The genebanks that are intended for restocking, nowadays mostly consist of semen from species that are also farmed. On the other hand, it would need to extend to other species, such as the large Amazon catfishes: *Phractocephalus hemioliopterus; Brachyplathystoma filamentosum* and *B. Flavicans*, and others as *Zungaro jahu, Surubim lima* and *Hemisorubim platyrhynchos*; in addition to the species endangered by numerous factors such as the construction of hydroelectric dams, overfishing, and pollution of the aquatic environment.
