Genetic evaluation of the unknown contribution of stocked fish in angler catches: a case study using mulloway <i> Argyrosomus japonicus</i>

Stock enhancement involves the augmentation of wild populations with hatchery-reared recruits. generally also includes a postrelease monitoring program which tracks stocked individuals within fishery, and this relies on having means to identify likely origin recaptured fish (e. g., physical, otolith, or genetic tags). This study reports application sibship analysis retrospectively infer mulloway ( Argyrosomus japonicus ) estuaries when other identification were not available. Eight cohorts into two across seven-year period, but only some released during physically marked chemical otolith stains. Fish sampled from (mostly through an angler-based sampling program) genotyped for six microsatellite loci, alongside 129 nonstocked estuaries. The presence multiple sibs mixed in was used captured against background known-origin (verified by marks) levels unstocked suggested could have contributed 9% augmented (7% corrected sibship). proportion inferred be hatchery decreased size (likely due mortality migration), expected contribution rates differed among cohorts. results highlight that may useful retrospective evaluation