Selective breeding
Bonamia ostrea is a protistan parasite that causes catastrophic losses (nearly 98%) in European flat oyster "Ostrea edulis" L. This protistan parasite is endemic to three oyster-regions in Europe. Selective breeding programs show that "O. edulis" susceptibility to the infection differs across oyster strains in Europe. A study carried out by Culloty et al. showed that ‘Rossmore' oysters in Cork harbour, Ireland had better resistance compared to other Irish strains. A selective breeding program at Cork harbour uses broodstock from 3– to 4-year-old survivors and is further controlled until a viable percentage reaches market size.