8121

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8121
• Author: Williamson, J. H. and R. S. Wydoski.
• Title: Genetics Management Guidelines.
• USFW Year: 1994.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver, CO.
• Copyright Material: NO

rates to ensure that specified requirements are met. These guidelines '
provide the protocol for disposition of such fish.
Planned captive propagation minimizes the production of endangered fish
that will be excess to Program needs and reduces demands on resources '
(i.e., people, funds, and space). The number of endangered fish that are
reared for Program needs depends upon:
1. Captive propagation goals and objectives
2. Breeding strategy or mating system used
3. Fecundity of the endangered fish
4. Anticipated mortality during culture
5. Method used to culture endangered fish
6. Uncertainty of production during captive culture, and
7. Availability of culture facilities
"Stocking Plans" and annual "Scopes of Work" that are required by the
Recovery Implementation Program should be prepared well in advance of
projected field or laboratory studies so that endangered fish needs can
be incorporated into planned production. This is especially important if
large or mature endangered fishes are needed for the studies. For
example, approximately five years are needed to produce mature bonytail
and humpback chubs and seven years are needed to produce adult razorback
suckers and Colorado squawfish.
All endangered fish propagation will be done in accordance with Program
"Genetics Management Guidelines" (i.e., philosophy, goals, and general
procedures for maintaining genetic diversity similar to wild stocks),
"Genetics Management Plan"(i.e., classification of endangered fish
species or stocks and establishing priorities using information on status
and trends), and "Stocking Plans" (i.e., specific details on species,
numbers of fish, size[s], time of stocking, and method[s] to evaluate
stocking).
B. Procedures for Disposition of Captive-Reared Endangered Fish. Production
targets are based on the numbers of fish that were identified for
specific Program needs. Under normal operating procedures, unfit fish
(e.g., hybrids, genetically deformed, those with untreatable contagious
diseases, etc.) will be euthanized following accepted protocol of the
fisheries profession. Captive-reared endangered fish in Program
propagation facilities will be summarized in an Annual Propagation
Operation Plan. Fish that are no longer needed for specific Program
purposes will be identified in this annual plan. Disposition of such
fish will be done by priority:
1. Captive-reared endangered fish will be used to meet Program needs for
refugia, broodstock development, laboratory/field experiments. and
augmentation or restoration stocking.
2. Provide fish for other research studies not outlined in Table 1 of
the Annual Facilities Operation Plan.
Provide fish for information and education programs.
4. Provide fish to agencies in the Lower Colorado River Basin for use in
research and augmentation or restoration stocking.
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