Genetic Conservation of Salmonid Fishes

As the human population increases and nations become more industrialized, the habitat and water quality required for the survival of fish continues to decline. In addition to these environmental factors, fish populations are directly or potentially affected by harvesting, enhancement programs and introgression with hatchery-propagated or transgenic fish. To our knowledge no other scientific meeting has been assembled to consider the breadth of the problem, to review the technology that is presently available for the preservation of the germ plasm of salmonid stocks and to identify the scientific advances that are required to overcome the problems. Because many salmonids have spawning grounds within the confines of a specific region or county but will spend a large portion of their life cycle within the territorial waters of other countries or in the open ocean, the preservation of unique genes or gene pools in these animals requires international cooperation. This scientific meeting has provided a forum in which to discuss the problems, evaluate the present methods or technology for addressing the problems and suggest new directions or innovations that need to be implemented. During this meeting we limited our discussion to salmonid fishes. However, the general conclusions about the factors that affect the population dynamics of fish stocks and the technical aspects concerning the preservation of germ plasm will be applicable to other fish species.

Proceedings of a NATO ASI held in Moscow, Idaho, and Pullman, Washington, June 23-July 5, 1991

Methods to Describe Fish Stocks.- Spatial Organization of Pacific Salmon: What To Conserve?.- Status of Biodiversity of Taxa and Nontaxa of Salmonid Fishes: Contemporary Problems of Classification and Conservation.- Requirements for Genetic Data on Adaptations to Environment and Habitats of Salmonids.- Impacts of Fishing on Genetic Structure of Salmonid Populations.- Genetic Change in Hatchery Populations.- Potential Impacts of Transgenic and Genetically Manipulated Fish on Natural Populations: Addressing the Uncertainties through Field Testing.- The Reproductive Containment of Genetically Altered Salmonids.- Germplasm Repositories for Plants.- Advances in the Cryopreservation of Embryos and Prospects for Application to the Conservation of Salmonid Fishes.- Genetic Resource Banks and Reproductive Technology for Wildlife Conservation.- Cryopreservation of Fish Spermatozoa.- The Norwegian Gene Bank Programme for Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar).- Reconstitution of Genetic Strains of Salmonids Using Biotechnical Approaches.- Genetic Components in Life History Traits Contribute to Population Structure.- Status and Plight of the Searun Cutthroat Trout.- Status of Genetic Conservation in Salmonid Populations from Asturian Rivers (North of Spain).- Genetic Status of Atlantic Salmon (S. salar) in Asturian Rivers (Northern Spain).- Genetic Management of Natural Fish Populations.- Genetics of Salmonids in Czechoslovakia: Current Status of Knowledge.- Occurrence, Distribution, and Potential Future of Yugoslavian Salmonids.- Genetic Differentiation and Relationship within and between Natural and Cultured Populations of Oncorhynchus masou Complex in Japan.- Data Base for Trout Brood Stocks.- The Use of Supplementation to Aid in Natural Stock Restoration.- Status of the Genetic Resources of Pacific Rim Salmon.- Status of the Atlantic Salmon, Salmo salar L., Its Distribution and the Threats to Natural Populations.- Selective Breeding and Domestication.