GENETIC FINGERPRINTING of Coarse Fish in 2008

On 20th July 2006 the Minister for the Communications, Energy and Natural Resources introduced a new bye law titled CONSERVATION OF AND PROHIBITION ON SALE OF COARSE FISH BYE-LAW NO. 806, 2006 which provides for the following conservation measures:

• a bag limit of 4 coarse fish in any one day.
• prohibits the killing of any coarse fish greater than 25 cm in length.
• prohibits the sale of any coarse fish in Ireland (excluding NI), this provision will not apply to fishing tackle dealers and fish bait suppliers who have been granted an exemption from their respective Regional Fisheries Board.

This bye-law meant that the ISFC could not accept bodies of any coarse fish (dace, roach, rudd or any hybrids > 25 cm) from anglers for the purposes of claiming a specimen. Bodies were required to positively identify to species or hybrid level because of the similarity of their external features.

For many years the Committee recognised that genetic fingerprinting of cyprinids was required for consistent identification of fish, to enable fish to be returned alive to the water and, importantly, to allow anglers to continue to claim specimen cyprinids. Arising from ongoing research into the dynamics of selected cyprinid species in some Irish lakes, being carried out by researchers in the School of Biology and Environmental Science at University College Dublin and funded by the Central Fisheries Board, Swords, Co. Dublin, genetic fingerprinting of cyprinid specimens commenced in 2007.

To support a claim, anglers were requested to submit a small sample of scales (3 scales) in a dry envelope (not in a plastic bag or tin foil) and good quality colour photographs. The entire fish on its side and fins well displayed, the dorsal and the anal fins (fully splayed), with additional close up photographs of the head (side on), were required for each fish claimed.

Analysis continued in 2008 for all cyprinids requiring identification. Results showed clear differentiation and identifications have been made using a combination of these results and all photographic evidence received. Several fish were not as claimed which demonstrated the scope of the technique. Because of the success of this feasibility study, the Committee has decided that genetic fingerprinting will be the standard approach to identification of roach, rudd and their hybrids from 2009.

Several rudd/roach hybrids (= 1 kg weight) were submitted during 2008. Three were claimed as roach but the analysis revealed a rudd component in each fish. The genetic fingerprinting technique presents an opportunity to include rudd/roach hybrids on ISFC listings and the Committee invites anglers to continue to submit claims for potential rudd/roach specimens = 1 kg in weight.

Notes: As all fish can be returned alive please handle carefully. Allow envelope to dry out preserve the sample. Do not store scales or tissue in plastic as sample will degrade.