Genetic resources of commercially important fish species in the Czech Republic: present state and future strategy

• Published in: Aquaculture Vol. 173; no. 1-4; pp. 469 - 481
• Main Authors: Flajshans, M, Linhart, O, Slechtova, V, Slechta, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 30.03.1999
• Subjects: Acipenser ruthenus; Coregonus lavaretus; Coregonus peled; Cyprinus carpio; Freshwater; Huso huso; Oncorhynchus mykiss; Silurus glanis; Tinca tinca; Czech Rep
• ISSN: 0044-8486

Since 1996, the Czech governmental programme on gene resources conservation of commercially important fish species has supported in situ conservation of rare/endangered breeds of common carp (Cyprinus carpio; nine breeds) and of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss; three breeds) by keeping broodstock of each as live gene banks on selected farms. Effective population size (N sub(e)) is maintained at 120. As fish are not included yet in the Czech animal breeding act, the programme encourages fisheries policy makers and farm managers to protect pure local breeds parallely to a general tendency to import breeds, use crossbreeds for production or move breeds among farms. Since most breeds are defined by reproductive and performance traits only, their genetic structure is currently being investigated by enzyme polymorphism analysis to determine their value to the programme. A data records system is being introduced to the breeders that combines fish tagging and a locally-developed computer programme to store information. The experimental cryopreserved sperm bank is being extended to meet the needs of ex situ conservation. Since 1997, the programme has expanded to include eight strains of tench (Tinca tinca), two strains of wels (Silurus glanis), two coregonid species (Coregonus lavaretus maraena and Coregonus peled) and two acipenserid species (Acipenser ruthenus and Huso huso).