A More Open Approach Is Needed to Develop Cell-Based Fish Technology: It Starts with Zebrafish

The global demand for fish is rising and projected to increase for years to come. However, there is uncertainty whether this increased demand can be met by the conventional approaches of capture fisheries and fish farming because of wild stock depletion, natural resource requirements, and environmental impact concerns. One proposed complementary solution is to manufacture the same meat directly from fish cells, as cell-based fish. More than 30 ventures are competing to commercialize cell-based meat broadly, but the field lacks a foundation of shared scientific knowledge, which threatens to delay progress. Here, we recommend taking a research-focused, more open and collaborative approach to cell-based fish meat development that targets lean fish and an unlikely but very attractive candidate for accelerating research and development, the zebrafish. Although substantial work lies ahead, cell-based meat technology could prove to be a more efficient, less resource-intensive method of producing lean fish meat. Sustainably meeting the growing demand for fish protein is a key challenge. In this Perspective, we demonstrate that advancing cell-based fish technology is an urgent priority. We show that lean fish is likely a more straightforward cell-based fish meat to produce and that zebrafish is best positioned for initial research efforts. We conclude that a more open, collaborative approach, with an eye toward simplicity, is necessary to co-create knowledge and successfully advance the field of cell-based fish. Shown in the Graphical Abstract are muscle fibers in the trunk of a 2-day-old zebrafish embryo. Actinin protein in muscle sarcomeres is labeled in green; nuclei are blue. Image credit for Graphical Abstract: Hank Farr, Nathan Johnson, and Lisa Maves of the Seattle Children's Research Institute.