Genetic methods for the estimation of fisheries spawning stock size: Transcripts of the forum - 9 May 2003

Abstract

Not all advances in the field of genetics are coming from sequencing entire genomes. “Genomic epidemiology” or population genetics is being used more and more in wild fisheries management. Harvesting of wild fisheries is the fifth largest export earner for the Queensland economy, and supports many regional communities. In desperation (almost!), fisheries managers have turned to this unconventional way of learning about the species so that targets for sustainable exploitation can be achieved.
Population genetics is particularly good at uncovering population structure where none is apparent. However beyond this accepted application, fisheries scientists are sceptical that population genetics can also provide estimates of the number of spawning individuals in a population. These forum transcripts represent progress towards this aim by a team headed by Jenny Ovenden and representing scientists from Department of Primary Industries, University of Queensland and CSIRO Marine Research. Fisheries Research and development Corporation (Australia), FRDC Project No.2001/018