ISFC Rules for Specimen Fish Claimants

GENETIC FINGERPRINTING OF SHAD AND SMOOTH-HOUND

The success of ongoing collaborations between the ISFC, Inland Fisheries Ireland and the School of Biology and Environmental Science at University College Dublin on shad (Alosa spp.) and smooth- hound (Mustelas spp.) meant these species could be identified by genetic fingerprinting from 2009 onwards. This eliminated the requirement for a body to be presented for both groups of fish. An extensive study of smooth-hound carried out by Dr. Edward Farrell, formerly UCD, found no evidence of M. mustelas (common smooth-hound) in Irish waters despite extensive sampling. Therefore ISFC will no longer require a tissue sample for genetic analysis to support a claim for a smooth-hound.

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