Abstract A total of seven polymorphic microsatellite loci from Gobio gobio were isolated and characterized. A preliminary population survey of 82 specimens from four populations, located in a downstream pollution gradient of cadmium and zinc, demonstrated the usefulness of these primers both in population genetic studies in general, as well as in evaluating the effects of anthropogenic pollution on genetic structure. Overall locus polymorphism ranged from two to 13 alleles. Observed heterozygosity per locus ranged from 0.39 to 0.73.