Abstract
The South African (SAF) yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) fishery represents a potential example of misalignment between management units and biological processes. The SAF fishery spans an operational stock with a boundary at 20°E, either side of which fish are considered part of Atlantic or Indian Ocean regional stocks. However, the actual recruitment of fish from Atlantic and Indian Ocean spawning populations into SAF waters is unknown. To address this knowledge gap, genomic analysis (11 101 SNPs) was performed on samples from Atlantic and Indian Ocean spawning sites, including SAF sites spanning the current stock boundary. Outlier loci conferred high discriminatory power to assignment tests and revealed that all SAF fish were assigned to the Indian Ocean population and that no Atlantic Ocean fish appeared in the SAF samples. Additionally, several Indian Ocean migrants were detected at the Atlantic spawning site demonstrating asymmetric dispersal and the occurrence of a mixed-stock fishery in Atlantic waters. This study highlights both the spatial inaccuracy of current stock designations and a misunderstanding of interactions between the underlying biological units, which must be addressed in light of local and global declines of the species. Specifically, the entire SAF fishery must be managed as part of the Indian Ocean stock
Original language | English |
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Article number | fsy102 |
Pages (from-to) | 2145–2152 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | ICES Journal of Marine Science |
Volume | 75 |
Issue number | 6 |
Early online date | 31 Jul 2018 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 01 Dec 2018 |
Keywords
- adaptation
- assignment
- conservation
- dispersal
- genetic differentiation
- stock
- sustainability
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Prizes
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Aberystwyth University Award for Exceptional Research Impact
Shaw, P. (Recipient), 17 Jul 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)