Estimation of conservation unit and population contribution to Chinook salmon mixed-stock fisheries in British Columbia, Canada, using direct DNA sequencing for single nucleotide polymorphisms

Determination of population structure and stock identification is a general problem in fisheries assessment management. Pacific salmon fishery management regimes are evolving to require higher resolution composition on increasingly smaller reporting units. For Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), baseline comprised some 125 198 individuals from 369 populations ranging Russia California was employed for genetic (GSI). GSI analysis based variation at up 547 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) demonstrated provide accurate estimates 68 conservation units (CUs) British Columbia, 23 groups the United States, one group Russia. In many instances, population-specific within CU were possible samples, as well identifying specific populations. A genetics-based system provides an opportunity conservation-based Canadian salmon.