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4 <br />3. Intra- and interspecific predation: this will not be a serious <br />concern because razorback sucker are not piscivorous--they are <br />generally herbivores and are not likely to consume other small <br />native fishes. <br />There are strategies that can be employed to minimize direct and indirect 4 <br />negative genetic impacts on wild razorback sucker populations and the <br />ecosystem. If implemented, these strategies will enable a more effective <br />evaluation of the project if hatchery fish are released in the wild. The <br />strategies are: <br />1. Hatchery fish will be progeny from wild stock from the upper <br />Colorado River. These progeny will be produced through paired <br />matings of individually marked wild broodfish. To maximize <br />genetic diversity and to reflect the genetic characteristics of <br />the broodstock, experimental fish will be taken from each paired <br />mating. This strategy will ensure that genetic combinations are <br />maximized and overall population fitness is maintained at its <br />current level or increased. Survival of stocked fish is likely to 4 <br />be enhanced if genetic diversity and fitness are maintained <br />through paired matings. <br />2. Initially, only small numbers of fish (e. g., 10 to 20, 250 to 300 <br />mm-long individuals per stocking site) would be released into the <br />wild. Until results of the genetic study are completed, it would <br />be prudent to release only small numbers of hatchery fish to <br />reduce the likelihood of interaction with other wild populations <br />should they leave the experimental release areas. Because present <br />numbers of wild fish are low, the likelihood that hatchery fish <br />14 <br />