9314

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9314
• Author: Wick, E. J. and J. A. Hawkins.
• Title: Colorado Squawfish Winter Habitat Study.
• USFW Year: 1989.
• USFW - Doc Type: Fort Collins.
• Copyright Material: NO

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
These "Genetics Management Guidelines" provides the conceptual framework for
genetics management and rationale for maintaining genetic diversity of wild
and captive listed and candidate fish stocks throughout Region 6. A "Genetics
Management Plan" will identify and characterize the fish stocks, determine
status and trends, and establish priorities for effective and rational
genetics management by species and stocks. "Reintroduction/Augmentation
Plans" for specific actions will include the justification and rationale for
stocking, details regarding species, size of fish, timing of release, location
of release, and an assessment about genetic risks. In addition, "Monitoring
Plans" will be prepared to describe how the introduction/augmentation will be
evaluated. All plans must be approved by the recovery team, and Regional
Director, and must be covered by a Federal Fish and Wildlife Permit. A
Section 7 consultation under the Endangered Species Act may be required to
determine if the proposed actions may jeopardize wild stocks of endangered
fish.
The philosophy, and goals of Region 6's genetics management efforts are to
maintain the genetic integrity of wild and captive-reared endangered and
candidate fishes and prevent irreversible losses of genetic diversity that may
result from management interventions or lack of action. Recovery efforts will
first evaluate management opportunities and potential genetic risks. Initial
efforts will be to protect natural self-sustaining stocks and to reestablish
wild endangered and candidate fish stocks by removing or significantly
reducing limiting factors responsible for population declines or losses. If
endangered or candidate fish stocks are at critical levels, captive
propagation and stocking may be used as a fishery management tool to
facilitate recovery while preserving the genetic diversity inherent to wild
stocks. When supplementation (i.e., reintroduction/augmentation) is needed,
an acceptable breeding and rearing strategy will be used to collect
broodstock/eggs and rear progeny with genetic diversity similar to that of the
parent wild stocks. Criteria used to identify and characterize endangered and
candidate fish stocks include geographic distribution and abundance,
identified or suspected spawning sites, migrations, known movement and
interchange between stocks, and genetic characterization of stocks. Criteria
used to determine status and trends include defining the distribution and
abundance of stocks, documenting spawning and recruitment, identifying the
potential for extinction of stocks from catastrophic risk, and estimating the
probability for imminent extinction.
Genetics management of endangered and candidate fish species will utilize four
basic planning steps; (1) inventory and scoping including assessment of issues
or problems, (2) strategic planning including genetic risk assessment, and
identification of strategies to solve issues or problems facing the recovery
effort, (3) operational planning or implementation of strategies, and (4)
evaluation. All reintroduction/augmentation will be thoroughly evaluated to
ensure genetic conservation of remaining wild fish stocks.
If sufficient adult endangered and candidate fish are available and removal
from the wild will not jeopardize the genetic characteristics of the founder
stock, a minimum target of 50 adults (25 males and 25 females) should be used
to develop captive broodstocks. These numbers will minimize the likelihood of