Genetic population structure in Norway lobster ( Nephrops norvegicus ): management regime under panmixia

Abstract Investigations of genetic stock structure sometimes reveal a mismatch between management units and biological units. In Scandinavian waters, Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) is divided into two management units (the Skagerrak–Kattegat and the Norwegian Deep). We have tested the populati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ICES Journal of Marine Science
Main Authors: Westgaard, Jon-Ivar, Søvik, Guldborg, Johansen, Torild
Other Authors: Grant, W Stewart, European Regional Development Fund
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Oxford University Press (OUP) 2023
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Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsad009
https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/icesjms/fsad009/49046422/fsad009.pdf
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Summary:Abstract Investigations of genetic stock structure sometimes reveal a mismatch between management units and biological units. In Scandinavian waters, Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) is divided into two management units (the Skagerrak–Kattegat and the Norwegian Deep). We have tested the population genetic structure of Nephrops within this region using microsatellite DNA markers, and compared the structure with the present management units. Our study suggests no population genetic structure of Nephrops within the Skagerrak, Kattegat, and Norwegian Deep region, whereas a shallow genetic structure was detected on a larger geographical scale when comparing outgroup samples from Scotland and Iceland. We found indications of sex-biased dispersal as the overall genetic differences were larger for females. Ocean current patterns suggest that Nephrops stocks in the region may be connected by larval drift. The two areas differ in fishing pressure, monitoring, assessment, and regulations, which is an argument for maintaining the present two-areas management regime despite the evidence for one biological population.