Microsatellite analysis indicates an absence of population structure among <i>Hippoglossus hippoglossus</i> in the north‐west Atlantic

Abstract

To explore the population structure of Atlantic halibut Hippoglossus hippoglossus , 160 fish from four locations in the north‐west Atlantic (Bay of Fundy, Scotian Shelf, Gulf of St Lawrence and Iceland) were examined for evidence of population structure using 18 microsatellite markers. Pair‐wise F ST and a model‐based cluster analysis revealed no significant differentiation between samples, although uncertainties surrounding Atlantic halibut reproductive behaviour made it difficult to ascertain that only a single breeding population had been sampled at each location