Stock Structure and Effective Size of Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) in the Northern Gulf of Mexico and Implications Relative to Stock Enhancement and Recruitment

The importance of identifying spatial population structure in restocking and stock enhancement programmes

“…They might also be expected to show along-shore genetic isolation by distance. Such patterns have been observed in several estuarine fishes (Chenoweth et al, 1998;Gold et al, 2001;Gold, 2004;Burridge et al, 2004). In the sparid black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) along the south-east Australian coast, the F ST values for allozymes and mtDNA were 0.012 and 0.263, respectively (Burridge et al, 2004).…”

“…The former is needed to describe the genetic structure of the populations, which as we have seen can be very varied and rather unpredictable, and thus identify the most suitable population to provide broodstock. Gold (2004) describes the genetic structure of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) from a stock enhancement viewpoint, as do Tringali et al (2003) and Ziemann (2004) for Pacific threadfin (Poldactylus sexfilis). Ideally the population to be enhanced would provide the broodstock, but where this is not feasible, the genetically most similar population should be used.…”

Natural and Anthropogenic Forces Shape the Population Genetics and Recent Evolutionary History of Eastern United States Bay Scallops (Argopecten irradians)

“…But proximity of the Gulf Stream to both coasts may facilitate larval transport from southeastern Florida to NC, particularly when hurricanes travel northward along the Atlantic coast; or boat traffic (e.g., via bilge discharge) may occasionally transport larvae. Hurricane frequency is highest during the late-summer/fall spawning season (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov), and coastal Atlantic hurricanes have been common in some years (e.g., 1972, 1997, 2004; http:// www.nhc.noaa.gov.pastall.shtml) just prior to bay scallop population flushes at some locations in the following years (e.g., 1973to 1974, 1998, 2004to 2005see Bologna et al (2001) and Campanella et al (2007)). In addition, Pleistocene fluctuations in sea level have, at times, made the Florida peninsula a less formidable barrier to gene flow between the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean (Healy 1975).…”

“…Several models for such a program exist (e.g., Gold 2004, Bert et al 2007); one has been applied to Florida Gulf bay scallop restoration (Wilbur et al 2005). However, hatchery-based stock enhancement has limited potential to remedy the problems that chronic overfishing causes.…”

Ecological and Genetic Implications of Aquaculture Activities

“…Stock enhancement can produce the same effect. If the enhanced species is composed of locally adapted, genetically differentiated populations, then supplementing a population with broods composed of individuals that contain alleles from a different population may homogenize those populations and reduce the genetically based adaptive differences between them (Gold, 2004;Waples and Drake, 2004). Local adaptation is disrupted via introgression of non-local alleles through interbreeding between individuals with different genetic backgrounds.…”