The important role of genetic improvement in aquaculture production is well recognized, and worldwide large-scale commercial selective breeding programs are currently in operation and improving the genetic potential of several species. As aquaculture productions increase, a number of characteristics related to product quality become increasingly important target traits for improvement since the quality of the farmed product is essential for succeeding in new, expanded market segments. In the particular case of salmonid species, substantial attention is paid to genetic improvement of traits directly related to the consumer’s perception of the product as well as to quality aspects that enhance its value as a raw material for further processing. Several product quality traits are also of vital importance to the production costs of the salmonid species. Simple mass selection programs can be highly effective for improving growth rates in aquaculture species, but more advanced family based programs are required for improvement of product quality traits. The presentation will describe the current status and prospect for further optimisation of selection schemes for improved product quality traits in fish species. The relevance and potential of recent developments in the field of molecular genetics will also be addressed.