Genetics and broodstock management of coho salmon

Abstract The success of finfish broodstock operations for both aquaculture and captive restoration purposes will depend on accurate prediction and management of the influences of a myriad of genetic effects. Broodstock development programs for aquacultural species have historically relied on terrestrial models. As with terrestrial species, much of the early genetic research on finfish focused on estimates of inbreeding depression (through sib mating), estimates of heritabilities from covariance analysis, and estimates of genetic effects through interspecific or interstrain hybridization. Recent innovations in biotechnology, including transgenic manipulations and isolation of DNA markers, have shown some promise to assist traditional broodstock improvement programs. This report will first provide a general overview of some basic genetic principles that have proven useful for developing classical broodstock programs and may be equally important for the production of genetically modified (clonal, polyploid, or transgenic) broodstocks. The remainder of the report will focus on two aspects of broodstock development programs, genotype–environment interactions and inbreeding, and present research data from a multi-generational coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ) selection program.