Managing the Genetic Resources in the Intensive Stock Enhancement Program Carried out on Black Sea Bream in Hiroshima Bay, Japan

Abstract

The establishment of sustainable fishery management strategies requires detailed characterization of the stocks, including their genetic diversity and structure (Allendorf and Ryman, 1987; Ryman, 1981). Traditionally, the large population size, wide distribution and the potential high mobility during the pelagic eggs and larval phase was presumed to explain the lack of genetic differentiation and population structure found in marine species (Hauser & Carvalho, 2008; Ward et al., 1994). Natural selection and high gene flow were considered the main evolutionary forces affecting genetic structure of marine organisms. However, recent genetic studies on marine fish have evidenced population structure at different geographical and temporal scales (Knutsen et al., 2003; Umino et al., 2009; Watts et al., 2010). This information is especially relevant to preserve the genetic identity of wild stocks and minimize the negative genetic interaction between wild and hatchery specimens from escapees and stock enhancement programs (Blanco Gonzalez & Umino, 2009; Glover at al., 2010). Imprecision or lack of genetic information may not only exacerbate problems that affect yields of fisheries but also erode the gene pool and the potential adaptive response of the stock in an irretrievable manner (Laikre et al., 2010; Reiss et al., 2009; Ward, 2006). Despite its importance for conservation and management, it has not been until recently that marine stock enhancement programs started integrating genetic analysis and monitoring data prior to, during and after release (Bert et al., 2001; Blanco Gonzalez et al., 2008a). Meanwhile, our knowledge about the genetic resources of commercially-farmed stocks for their identification in case of escapees is still very scarce (Glover et al., 2010; Svasand et al., 2007).