Genomics goes deeper in fisheries science: The case of the blackspot seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo) in the northeast Atlantic

Recent advances in genomics are an essential contributor to the assessment of fish stocks by providing a finescale identification of the species' genetic boundaries. The blackspot seabream, Pagellus bogaraveo, is a commercial sparid distributed across the northeast (NE) Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Within the NE Atlantic, three P. bogaraveo stocks are currently defined: Azores; Atlantic Iberian waters; Celtic Sea and the Bay of Biscay. We used a genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) approach to better define the spatial scale at which the species occurs in the NE Atlantic. Our findings revealed the existence of an additional genetic cluster in the eastern Atlantic (Gulf of C ' adiz) that was not identified in previous studies based on mitochondrial DNA or microsatellite data. The combined effect of ocean circulation patterns, complex bathymetry and the existence of local upwelling may play an important role on the retention of blackspot seabream larvae and adults, providing an explanation for the genetic differentiation between the specimens caught off the Gulf of C ' adiz and Peniche (Portugal). Results presented here revealed hidden intra-specific genetic differentiation and can inform a finer-scale sampling to determine the new stock boundaries in the Atlantic Iberian coasts.

Automated summary

Recent advances in genomics have greatly contributed to the assessment of fish stocks by providing precise identification of genetic boundaries. This study used a genotyping-by-sequencing approach to reveal the existence of an additional genetic cluster of blackspot seabream in the northeast Atlantic, which was not previously identified. Factors such as ocean circulation patterns and local upwelling may play a role in the genetic differentiation observed in this study.