GENETIC FINGERPRINTING OF SHAD AND SMOOTH-HOUND

The success of ongoing collaborations between the ISFC, the Central Fisheries Board and the School of Biology and Environmental Science at University College Dublin on shad ( Alosa spp.) and smooth-hound ( Mustelas spp.) means that shad and smooth-hounds will be identified by genetic fingerprinting from 2009 onwards. This will eliminate the requirement for a body to be presented for both groups of fish.

For shad 3 scales are required. Scale storage and photographic requirements are described below.

For smooth-hounds, where two species ( M. asteriasand M. mustelas) need to be separated, a small piece of tissue (1cm x 1cm), from the trailing edge of the second dorsal fin, stored in an envelope
and allowed to dry, will provide sufficient DNA for analysis.

For shad 3 scales are required. Scale storage and photographic requirements are described below.

For smooth-hounds, where two species ( M. asteriasand M. mustelas) need to be separated, a small piece of tissue (1cm x 1cm), from the trailing edge of the second dorsal fin, stored in an envelope
and allowed to dry, will provide sufficient DNA for analysis.

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