Management of human-induced contemporary evolution to maintain and restore genetic diversity in brown trout

Maintaining genetic diversity and integrity of animal populations is a key challenge in conservation. While ecological population declines can be reversed, loss of genetic diversity and original trait distribution is often a one-way road. Migratory brown trout is critically endangered in Finland due to extensive modification of river ecosystems and unrestricted fishing on feeding areas. In addition to being too intense in general, fishing creates challenges by being selective for a number of traits in fish. We have shown that recreational angling, for example, is selective for certain personality traits and can cause inherited behavioural changes in the offspring of brown trout. Only a few …