Insights into coastal migration of Atlantic salmon through the integration of satellite tagging and genetic assignments using SNP markers

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To gain insights into coastal migration of salmon around Scotland, an integrated study using both satellite tagging and genetic stock investigation (GSI) was performed. Over two years, adult Atlantic salmon were captured on the North coast of Scotland and fitted with satellite tags programmed for a range of release periods. Tissue samples were collected from these fish and genotyped using a panel of single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers developed for GSI of salmon within Scotland and NE England. Information from the satellite tag locations was then integrated with the likely origins of the fish as defined using GSI, and stock-specific migration positions examined. The geographical marine distribution of tagged fish assigned to different parts of Scotland was found to have no obvious pattern. As such, results of this analysis are consistent with inferences from mark recapture investigations using coastal nets and indicate that homing fish show considerable spatial mixing around the Scottish coast during homing.