News
Monitoring of aquatic genetic resources: 1650 aquatic samples collected for genetic analysis
In 2024, samples and datasets of flat oyster and Pacific oyster, mussel, turbot, zander and eel will be analysed. Work is currently being done on the first 360 of the 1650 collected samples.
In 2022 and 2023, the practical method for collecting samples of the relevant species for the monitoring of genetic diversity was determined. Consequently, samples of mussel, flat oyster, turbot, eel, and zander were collected from species-specific locations in Dutch waters, such as the Wadden Sea, the Zeeland delta, and the major rivers.
First results for turbot and mussel
By now approximately 1650 samples have been collected from six species (Pacific and flat oyster, glass eel and eel, zander, and two samplings of mussel and turbot). From the collected samples, DNA will be isolated and the quality and suitability for further analysis and genotyping (mapping the hereditary information) will be determined. Where necessary, the sampling protocols have been revised to achieve better quality samples.
At present, the first 360 samples of turbot and mussel have been genotyped and partially analysed. This analysis shows that there is a single genetic population of turbot in the North Sea, and multiple genetic populations of mussel have been found in the Eastern Scheldt.
What will happen in 2024-2025?
The samples of the six species collected so far will be analysed. Protocols for data analysis will be developed for the various species. After this analysis, a selection will be made for further genetic monitoring for the final phase of the project in order to obtain the best possible initial picture of the genetic diversity of the relevant species that occur in the wild in the Netherlands and are cultivated in Dutch aquaculture as well.
About Aquatic Genetic Monitoring
In 2021, countries worldwide agreed to start working with the FAO Global Plan of Action (GPA) for the conservation and sustainable use of aquatic genetic resources. These are the wild populations of species that are also cultivated.
In the Netherlands, various types of fish, shellfish, and seaweed are relevant: mussel, oyster, eel, turbot, zander, sugar kelp, sea lettuce, oarweed, and wakame. Therefore, the CGN started the Aquatic Genetic Monitoring project in 2022 as a part of the WOT Genetic Resources (WOT-03) 2022-2026. The project collaborates with the WOT Fisheries (WOT-5) of the Centre for Fisheries Research (CVO).