Jointly managed by partners.

Marble trout conservation, hybridization, supplemental breeding

Many human impacts affect fish populations in South Tyrol's waterways, particularly the marble trout, the only native Salmo species in the province. To mitigate the negative effects of these various human interventions, restocking is essential. This activity focuses on using very young fish, primarily those born from wild broodstock or direct descendants of wild individuals.

Such fish breeding activities require strict genetic control due to the widespread genetic introgression between the native marble trout and the non-native brown trout, which was introduced into provincial waters. This poses a significant risk of spreading hybridization. Furthermore, knowledge about the genetic introgression status of wild populations can change significantly within a few generations, necessitating continuous updates. This ongoing monitoring is crucial for providing adequate support in defining future conservation and protection measures for the marble trout, and for tracking the effects of previously adopted management practices.

• Updated genetic status of trout populations (Salmo genus) in the main South Tyrolean waterways;
• Genetic control of potential marble trout broodstock within fish breeding activities in the Province of South Tyrol.