Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability

Journal or Book Title: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

Keywords: stocking; genetics; fisheries; rehabilitation; natural selection; exotic introductions; genetic introgression; gene banks; Great Lakes

Volume/Issue: 38:12

Page Number(s): 1877-1881

Year Published: 1981

The stocking of indigenous or exotic fish species is often a desirable aspect of fisheries
rehabilitation programs. Two strategies are proposed for the choice of fish for stocking. The
first plan involves making separate collections of fish from each of several genetically
different populations, performing all possible crosses between the different sources, and then
stocking the progeny. In contrast to selective breeding programs, this strategy maximizes
genetic variability and then relies on the environinent for the selection of the most appropriate
genotypes. The second plan is to sample populations from waters environmentally similar to
those being rehabilitated that may contain preadapted genotypes. Application of this strategy
should consider the use of gene banks or natural refugia as a source of preadapted genetic
variability. When gene flow may occur between stocked fish and local populations, the
second strategy should be used in favor of the first to minimize the impact on native gene
pools. When choosing fish to implement either strategy, it is important to know the distribution
of genetic variability within and between populations to sample adequately the variability
present.

DOI: 10.1139/f81-233

Type of Publication: Journal Article