Comparison of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) populations at commercial size: Interest of a global study.

Six common carp populations (Cyprinus carpio) were compared with four crite ria : morphology, genetic, transformation yield and fillets aspect. Geograp hic origins of the different stocks studied correspond to the main areas of french production : Dombes, Forez, Brenne, Allier, Lorraine and Poitou-Cha rentes. Geographic identification of stocks was possible if it is based on an globa l analysis integrating all the parameters measured. Differences seemed to b e essentially related to environmental conditions and allow to differentiat e stocks from regions where traditional and intensive breeding is practice, and based on the carp production (Dombes, Forez, Lorraine) and those with a predominance of breeding other species for restocking market (Allier, Bre nne, Poitou-Charentes).