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0 <br />the potential benefits of an experimental stocking program must be <br />gauged. Also, defining these goals is necessary to measure the <br />success or failure to such a program and document when objectives <br />are achieved. <br />C <br />RECOMMENDATIONS <br />The following recommendations are provided as a proposed experimental <br />stocking program for razorback sucker in the upper Colorado and lower Gunnison <br />rivers. <br />1. Continue to obtain wild, adult razorback sucker from the upper <br />10 Colorado River to supplement existing wild stocks held at Wray SFH, <br />Colorado to maintain population genetic diversity. <br />2. Concurrent with Item 1, genetically assess razorback sucker from <br />regions of the Colorado River basin to determine if unique stocks <br />exist. <br />3. Develop breeding strategies that would define the criteria for <br />crosses thereby ensuring protection of genetic diversity. Breeding <br />strategies would be developed by the Propagation Coordinator and <br />would be consistent with the Propagation Plan for the upper Colorado <br />River basin. <br />4. Develop and maintain a backup broodstock population as a first <br />priority. These fish will be produced from paired matings of wild <br />fish. Progeny from these matings will be held in captivity and may <br />be viewed as potential production broodstock in addition to their <br />utility as a genetic reserve. They could also be used for other <br />culture and field research. The second priority will be to produce <br />fish from paired matings of wild fish for experimental stocking. <br />41 <br />D