Project number: 2003-033
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $57,777.00
Principal Investigator: Paul J. Palmer
Organisation: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries EcoScience Precinct
Project start/end date: 29 Jun 2003 - 30 Jun 2006
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Need for supporting and enabling biotechnologies:

The FRDC report highlighted the need for proper genetic management in scallop enhancement ventures (FRDC 2000/190) in particular citing the key issues of genetic resource management (Blankenship and Leber, 1997). This view is further supported by proceedings from the second international stock enhancement and sea ranching conference (Leber et al., 2002b)

Determining the genetic structure of the source population is essential baseline information to design an effective genetic management protocol for restocking ventures. Although, initial allozyme work indicates that the Queensland stocks are a single genetic population and are potentially a different species to the WA (Dredge et al unpubl; FRDC 2000/190), allozyme data is not effective in discerning local genetic populations whereas microsatellites are (Kolijonen et al., 2002). The information may also be used in future environmental monitoring of genetic diversity in wild populations by providing a genetic baseline for localized allelic frequencies and provide cross generational markers of hatchery stock.

The development of appropriate genetic management protocols at an early stage of a long-term proposal such as scallop ranching in Queensland or Western Australia is both desirable and responsible. Fisheries, conservation, public and other interests will undoubtedly, and appropriately, critically scrutinize the progress of the proposed operation. The development of appropriate and responsible genetic management protocols have been identified by QSS as being a critical short-term priority, and as such may have a significant bearing on the wider public acceptance of the operation.

The current Western Australian operation have also recognized genetic management as an important factor, although they are not undertaking such work. Our proposal, which is likely to include the WA operation at some level, would therefore directly benefit both states.

Kolijonen, M.-L., Tahtinen, J., Saisa, M. and Koskiniemi, J. 2002. Maintenance of genetic diversity of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) by captive breeding programmes and the geographic distribution of microsatellite variation. Aquaculture 212, 69-92.

Leber, K. M., Kitada, S., Blankenship, H. L. and Svaasand, T. (2002b). Proceedding from the Second International Symposium on Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching, Kobe, Japan.

Objectives

1. Determine the genetic population structure of the wild stocks of Queensland and West Australian Amusium balloti (DNA based e.g. mitochondrial and microsatellite) i.e. whether the saucer scallops in WA and Qld are similar or different and whether there are differences within population along the coast.
2. Resolve taxonomic status of Australian Amusium scallops using molecular taxonomy i.e. are WA and Qld saucer scallops different species

Final report

Author: Paul Palmer
Final Report • 3.67 MB
2003-033-DLD.pdf

Summary

The saucer scallop, Amusium balloti, is distributed along the Western and Eastern coast of Australia and supports a fishery in both Queensland and Western Australia. Two commercial companies are investing in sea-ranching operations in an attempt to stabilise and increase annual catches. These operations are reliant upon hatchery production of juveniles because of species-specific constraints on open-water harvest of spat. The mass release of scallop juveniles is expected to have an immediate effect on population abundance, but it also has the potential to alter the genetic structure of the existing saucer scallop populations. Therefore, understanding and management of the genetic diversity is needed. 
 
Genetic diversity in a population or a species gives a range of genotypes that allows scope to adapt to environmental change, such as new diseases, new predators or competitors, or a change in climate. Loss of genetic diversity not only impacts on their capacity for adaptation but can also lead to potentially negative effects upon various performance traits such as survival and growth.
 
At this time, there is limited information available on the way genetic variation is spread throughout the saucer scallop populations. This project investigates the population genetic makeup of the east and west coast saucer scallops, which can give an insight into the reproductive interaction between populations and the identification of distinct stocks of scallops. 
 

Related research

Industry
Industry
Environment