Use of circuli spacing on scales to discriminate hatchery and wild barramundi, Lates calcarifer (Bloch)

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Abstract
A study was conducted to determine if hatchery-reared and wild barramundi, Lates calcarifer (Bloch), could be distinguished by the patterns of circuli spacing on the scales. Proprietary software and digitizing equipment was used to obtain measurements of circuli spacing within one millimetre of the focus of the scales. Discriminant analyses separated the groups with up to 83% accuracy. As the technique utilizes innate tags laid down in response to the rearing environment, it has considerably more potential for evaluating the efficacy of large-scale enhancement programmes than do traditional physical tagging techniques