Scientist working in ABL's genetics lab

The overall objective of this study is to expand the genetic baseline to allow accurate stock assessment of Chinook salmon harvested in U.S. fisheries under the current Pacific Salmon Commission agreement. This project is part of a coastwide effort to update the existing genetic baselines (Guthrie et al. 2004). It follows in the footsteps of the recently developed microsatellite DNA baseline created by Genetic Analysis of Pacific Salmonids (GAPS), a consortium of tribal, university, state, and federal agencies in western North America. The genetic stock identification analyses augment the ongoing coded-wire tag program.

The goals of this project are to: 1) complete tissue collections of Southeast Alaska Chinook salmon for use in development of DNA baselines, 2) expand the genetic baseline for southeast Alaska Chinook salmon using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and 3) determine the accuracy and precision of stock composition estimates of simulated mixtures of southeast Alaska stocks using SNP markers.

Co-investigators and cooperating agencies:
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Funding:
Chinook Technical Committee, Pacific Salmon Commission

References:
Guthrie III, C.M. and R.L. Wilmot. 2004. Genetic structure of wild chinook salmon populations of Southeast Alaska and northern British Columbia. Environmental Biology of Fishes 69:81-93