First approach for the identification of sardine populations <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sardina pilchardus</Emphasis> (Walbaum 1792) in the Moroccan Atlantic by allozymes

This study aimed at contributing to the identification of the sardine populations in the Moroccan Atlantic. The approach used is enzymes electrophoresis (allozymic marker analysis). The analysis was conducted in seven stations (251 individuals analysed). Two enzymes were tested (LDH* and SOD*). Only the SOD* was polymorphic and highly informative. Statistical analysis results showed heterogeneity between samples. Homogeneous population was identified in the south, from Tarfaya to Dakhla (~28°–24°N). The sampling from Safi (~32°N) seems to come from a differentiated population. The Agadir (~30°N) population would overlap the previous ones. The population identified offshore of Larache (~35°N) would be similar to the population located south of Portugal (~37°N).