Abstract
We review the evidence for fisheries-induced evolution in anadromous salmonids. Salmon are exposed to a variety of fishing gears and intensities as immature or maturing individuals. We evaluate the evidence that fishing is causing evolutionary changes to traits including body size, migration timing and age of maturation, and we discuss the implications for fisheries and conservation. Few studies have fully evaluated the ingredients of fisheries-induced evolution: selection intensity, genetic variability, correlation among traits under selection, and response to selection. Most studies are limited in their ability to separate genetic responses from phenotypic plasticity, and environmental change complicates interpretation. However, strong evidence for selection intensity and for genetic variability in salmon fitness traits indicates that fishing can cause detectable evolution within ten or fewer generations. Evolutionary issues are therefore meaningful considerations in salmon fishery management. Evolutionary biologists have rarely been involved in the development of salmon fishing policy, yet evolutionary biology is relevant to the long-term success of fisheries. Future management might consider fishing policy to (i) allow experimental testing of evolutionary responses to exploitation and (ii) improve the long-term sustainability of the fishery by mitigating unfavorable evolutionary responses to fishing. We provide suggestions for how this might be done.
Highlights
Anadromous salmonids (Table 1) migrate through freshwater and marine habitats, where they grow to maturity before homing to natal rivers for reproduction (Quinn 2005)
Do we know enough about the genetic effects of fishing on salmonids to justify reassessing current approaches to managing them? We believe so
Our survey of the literature indicates that the opportunity for fishing selection is amply demonstrated, even if it does not yet provide unambiguous evidence for rapid evolution
Summary
Anadromous salmonids (Table 1) migrate through freshwater and marine habitats, where they grow to maturity before homing to natal rivers for reproduction (Quinn 2005). Their high nutritional quality and relative ease of capture have subjected them to substantial human exploitation, through commercial, recreational and aboriginal fisheries. Evolutionary changes in fish life histories could affect viability and future yield in the fisheries, which is the opposite of that desired in management (Heino 1998; Law 2000; Conover and Munch 2002; de Roos et al, 2006). Delays in median timing of capture fl In weight & length of harvested fish fl Longevity, fl frequency of iteroparity
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