Six polymorphic microsatellite loci in the Japanese Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus niphonius

Six polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated for genetic structure studies of the Japanese Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus niphonius, a severely exploited marine fish species. The number of observed alleles for each locus ranged from seven to 41, and the values of expected and observed heterozygosities were 0.546-0.946 and 0.602-1.000, respectively. These microsatellite markers should prove to be a useful tool for estimating the population genetic structure and genetic variability of Japanese Spanish mackerel.