Dr Adriana Artiles of the Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT) has received a special recognition from the Latin American and Caribbean Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society for her work in aquaculture science and genetics. The honour was presented at LACQUA 2026 in San Salvador, El Salvador.
Chapter president Luis Andrés González Agraz handed over the distinction, which acknowledges Artiles’s scientific career and her part in genetic innovation, technological development and the drive towards a more productive, efficient and sustainable industry across the region.
LACQUA is the chapter’s annual congress. This year’s edition ran from 27 to 30 October and was staged in El Salvador for the first time, pairing a technical programme with a regional trade show. Genetics was among the themes lined up for discussion, alongside nutrition, digitalisation and production. The previous congress, in Medellín, Colombia, drew more than 2,000 attendees.
Artiles holds a PhD in Biological Sciences, and her career spans molecular biology, genetics, aquaculture research and the commercial use of that science. At CAT, she works with producers and partners around the world to understand their needs and identify the right genetic solutions for the challenges and opportunities they face. Her recent conference work includes a presentation on five years of genomic selection in Ecuador at World Aquaculture 2025 in India.
That customer-led approach reflects how the company operates. CAT builds customised, commercial-scale genetic and breeding programmes, supporting clients from initial strategy and programme design through to execution and commercialisation. Its Next-Gen Breeding approach combines selective breeding, genotyping and genome editing to speed up genetic improvement, with the aim of helping producers raise healthier, more productive and more resilient animals, and, in CAT’s words, widening the supply of high-quality, nutritious seafood.
Geir Olav, chief executive of CAT Norway, welcomed the news and said, “Congratulations to Adriana on this well-deserved recognition. We’re incredibly proud to have Adriana as part of the CAT team and to see her contributions to aquaculture recognized in this way.”
Artiles thanked the regional aquaculture community, along with the colleagues, collaborators and teams who have been part of her journey, and looked ahead. “I look forward to continuing to contribute to the advancement of genetics and sustainable aquaculture across the region,” she added.
