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Genetic evidence of local exploitation of Atlantic salmon in a coastal subsistence fishery in the Northwest Atlantic
September 11, 2014
Fisheries targeting mixtures of populations risk the over utilization of minor stock constituents unless harvests are monitored and managed. We evaluated stock composition and exploitation of Atlantic salmon in a subsistence fishery in coastal Labrador, Canada using genetic mixture analysis and individual assignment with a microsatellite baseline (15 loci, 11 829 individuals, 12 regional groups) encompassing the species western Atlantic range. Bayesian and maximum likelihood mixture analyses of fishery samples over six years (2006-2011; 1 772 individuals) indicate contributions of adjacent stocks of 96-97%. Estimates of fishery associated exploitation were highest for Labrador salmon (4.2-10.6% per year) and generally < 1% for other regions. Individual assignment of fishery samples indicated non-local contributions to the fishery (e.g., Quebec, Newfoundland) were rare and primarily in southern Labrador, consistent with migration pathways utilizing the Strait of Belle Isle. This work illustrates how genetic analysis of mixed stock Atlantic salmon fisheries in the northwest Atlantic using this new baseline can disentangle exploitation and reveal complex migratory behaviours.
Citation Information
Publication Year
2014
Title
Genetic evidence of local exploitation of Atlantic salmon in a coastal subsistence fishery in the Northwest Atlantic
Ian R. Bradbury, Lorraine C. Hamilton, Sara Rafferty, David Meerburg, Rebecca Poole, J. Brian Dempson, Martha J. Robertson, David G. Reddin, Vincent Bourret, Mélanie Dionne, Gerald J. Chaput, Timothy F. Sheehan, Tim L. King, John R. Candy, Louis Bernatchez
Publication Type
Article
Publication Subtype
Journal Article
Series Title
Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences