Low stocking incidence in brown trout populations from northwestern Spain monitored by LDH-5* diagnostic marker

Brown trout Salmo trutta is one of the most valuable species inhabiting river drainages in Galicia (northwestern Spain). The influence of man, through overfishing and pollution, is thought to have caused the decline of trout in Galician rivers. To balance the possible population decline, Galician rivers have been stocked extensively with a brown trout stock of German origin during the last 30 years. In this study, the incidence of stocking practices has been investigated by an LDH-5* genetic marker. A very low number of stocked individuals have been observed within river populations. despite the long period of repopulation. Only eight out of the 44 populations analysed showed a limited number of individuals of hatchery origin. Most stocked individuals detected were 0+ age, and showed a poor condition factor (K<1). Environmental factors (muscular stamina and food habits) and genetic factors (different selective conditions in hatchery medium) are invoked to explain the low viability of hatchery fish observed in this study. (C) 1995 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles