Abstract

Two of the major challenges for fisheries management are the control of invasive taxa dispersion and the conservation of aquatic genetic resources. In Chile, Mytilus chilensis (Chilean mussel) is endemic and the second most important aquaculture species. However, it coexists with two other species of the Mytilus genus, the River Plata mussel (M. platensis) native from South America and the invasive Mediterranean mussel (M.galloprovincialis).Genetic analysisbased onSNP panelsshow thatM. chilensis is the species with the largest distribution in the country, while the other two species are limited to specific geographic areas: M. galloprovincialis in the Biobío region and M. platensis in Magallanes region. Additionally, three genetic groups of M. chilensis were found across its geographical distribution (Reloncaví, Chiloé Island and Patagonia). However, individuals used in aquaculture and restocking are captured directly from the natural environment, without considering the species nor the genetic structure of the natural populations. Based on genomic information of the Mytilus genus in Chile, we propose zoned management considering the three major areas to regulatemusseltranslocation: Biobío,Los LagosandMagallanesregions.Thisstrategycouldcontrol the dispersion of invasive species and support the conservation of the genetic resources of the Mytilus genus through the regulation of seed translocation along the Chilean coast.