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<br />Standard fish hatchery practices are not suitable for recovery of <br />endangered fishes because the genetic integrity of the captive-reared <br />fish stocks may be compromised and result in (I) extinction of a species <br />or stock, (2) loss of genetic diversity within stocks or populations, (3) <br />loss of genetic diversity among stocks or populations, and (4) <br />inadvertent artificial selection (Kapuscinski et al. 1993). <br /> <br />Stocking of endangered fishes in the Upper Basin is not considered to be <br />a substitute for habitat preservation, enhancement, and restoration. <br />Natural propagation will be given the first priority in the recovery of <br />the endangered fishes in the Upper Colorado River Basin. The Program's <br />"Genetics Management Guidelines" identifies criteria to be used in <br />holding, rearing, or stocking of captive-reared endangered fish. <br /> <br />The stocking of surplus captive-reared endangered fish would only be done <br />after a stocking plan has been scientifically developed and approved by <br />the Recovery Program participants. Stocking plans would also be reviewed <br />by the Program's Genetics Panel, consisting of nationally and <br />internationally recognized fishery geneticists. <br /> <br />Indiscriminate stocking of captive-reared endangered fish cannot be <br />tolerated because such stocking could adversely affect the genetic <br />integrity of wild stocks and result in extinction of species or stocks. <br />Therefore, this alternative was not selected because the genetic risks to <br />wild endangered fish stocks would be too great. <br /> <br />4. Imolernent Disoosition Guidelines. Recovery is dependent upon taking a <br />number of actions to reduce adverse impacts on the endangered fishes. <br />Recovery Program participants have determined that (1) holding endangered <br />fish in refugia to prevent extinction of a speCies or stock from <br />extinction and (2) ~ropagation of captive-reared endangered fish for <br />vital research, information and education programs, and stocking are <br />necessary for the recovery effort. Consequently, the participants <br />discussed various aspects of propagation to produce only the numbers of <br />captive-reared endangered fish needed for recovery efforts. Since <br />attrition rates are uncertain or unknown, conservative measures were <br />taken to assure that adequate numbers of endangered fish would be <br />available for the intended purpose. However, this approach to <br />propagation results in fish that are excess or surplus to Recovery <br />Program needs. <br /> <br />Recovery Program participants developed tentative "Guidelines for <br />Disposition of Captive-Reared Endangered Fish" (Appendix A) that provided <br />a logical way to dispose of excess or surplus fish in an appropriate <br />manner. Seven priority steps will be followed in disposing of surplus <br />captive-reared endangered fish. The first five steps explore various <br />options to use surplus fish in a manner that will be beneficial to <br />recovery of the endangered fishes. The intent for general disposition is <br />to develop pedigreed family lots of priority species (or stocks) for <br />broodstocks, for conducting priority research, and for experimental, <br />augmentation, or restoration stocking. Only after these options are <br />fully exhausted would sacrificing the fish be recommended because of the <br /> <br />10 <br />