Isolation of nine novel tetranucleotide microsatellites in Atlantic herring ( Clupea harengus )

Nine tetranucleotide microsatellite loci developed for Atlantic herring are presented. Loci were isolated using a magnetic bead hybridization selection protocol that yielded an 80% enrichment for tetranucleotide microsatellites. Fifty Atlantic herring from each of a North‐west and North‐east Atlantic spawning group were screened at each locus. Loci were polymorphic (12–56 alleles per locus) and exhibited high levels of observed heterozygosity (0.66–0.98). These loci are therefore suitable for population studies and the analysis of mating systems.