Molecular Genetics in Fisheries

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-ix

   PDF

2. Developments in molecular genetic techniques in fisheries

   • Linda K. Park, Paul Moran

   Pages 1-28

3. Appraisal of molecular genetic techniques in fisheries

   • Robert D. Ward, Peter M. Grewe

   Pages 29-54

4. Molecular genetics and the stock concept in fisheries

   • G. R. Carvalho, L. Hauser

   Pages 55-79

5. The role of molecular genetic markers in the management of cultured fishes

   • M. Ferguson

   Pages 81-103

6. Perspectives of molecular genetics and fisheries into the 21st century

   • Fred M. Utter

   Pages 105-109

7. Molecular genetics in fisheries: current and future perspectives

   • Andrew Ferguson

   Pages 111-115

8. Microsatellites: genetic markers for the future

   • Jonathan M. Wright, Paul Bentzen

   Pages 117-121

9. Molecular genetics applications in fisheries: snake oil or restorative?

   • Rich Lincoln

   Pages 123-126

10. Back Matter

    Pages 127-141

    PDF

The basic principle of all molecular genetic methods is to employ inherited, discrete and stable markers to identify genotypes that characterize individuals, populations or species. Such genetic data can provide information ori the levels and distribution of genetic variability in relation to mating patterns, life history, population size, migration and environment. Although molecular tools have long been employed to address various questions in fisheries biology and management, their contributions to the field are sometimes unclear, and often controversial. Much of the initial impetus for the deployment of molecular markers arose from the desire to assess fish stock structure based on various interpretations of the stock concept. Although such studies have met with varying success, they continue to provide an impetus for the development of increasingly sensitive population discriminators, yielding information that can be valuable for both sustainable exploitation and the conservation of fish populations. In the last major synthesis of the subject, Ryman and Utter (1987) summarized progress and applications, though this was prior to the wide-scale adoption of DNA methodology. New sources of genetic markers and protocols are now available, in particular those that exploit the widely distributed and highly variable repeat sequences of DNA, and the amplification technique of the polymerase chain reaction.

• DNA
• biology
• genetics
• information
• migration
• molecular genetics
• summarize

• Marine and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, University of Wales, Swansea, UK

  Gary R. Carvalho

• Fisheries Centre, University of British, Columbia, Canada

  Tony J. Pitcher

Policies and ethics