Lack of genetic differentiation in yellowfin tuna has conservation implications in the Eastern Pacific Ocean

PLoS One. 2022 Aug 30;17(8):e0272713. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272713. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares, is an important global fishery and of particular importance in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO). According to the 2019 Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) assessment, yellowfin tuna within the EPO is a single stock, and is being managed as one stock. However, previous studies indicate site fidelity, or limited home ranges, of yellowfin tuna which suggests the potential for multiple yellowfin tuna stocks within the EPO, which was supported by a population genetic study using microsatellites. If numerous stocks are present, management at the wrong spatial scales could cause the loss of minor yellowfin tuna populations in the EPO. In this study we used double digestion RADseq to assess the genetic structure of yellowfin tuna in the EPO. A total of 164 yellowfin tuna from Cabo San Lucas, México, and the Galápagos Islands and Santa Elena, Ecuador, were analysed using 18,011 single nucleotide polymorphisms. Limited genetic differentiation (FST = 0.00058-0.00328) observed among the sampling locations (México, Ecuador, Peru, and within Ecuador) is consistent with presence of a single yellowfin tuna population within the EPO. Our findings are consistent with the IATTC assessment and provide further evidence of the need for transboundary cooperation for the successful management of this important fishery throughout the EPO.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Fisheries*
  • Genetic Drift
  • Microsatellite Repeats / genetics
  • Pacific Ocean
  • Tuna* / genetics

Grants and funding

Rufford Small Grant. “Trophic ecology and connectivity of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) between the Galapagos Marine Reserve and mainland Ecuador” 2015. Rufford Foundation. LMA. USD 7600. http://www.rufford.org/projects/laia_mu%C3%B1oz_abril The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. National Geographic Grant. “Genetic diversity and population structure of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) between Ecuador and Mexico”. 2017. National Geographic Society. LMA. USD 5000 https://www.nationalgeographic.org/funding-opportunities/grants/ The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Second Rufford Small Grant. “Genetic diversity and population structure of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) between Ecuador and Mexico” 2017. Rufford Foundation. LMA. USD 5880. http://www.rufford.org/projects/laia_mu%C3%B1oz The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Waitt Foundation Grant 2018. “Genomic diversity and population structure of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) between Ecuador and Mexico”. LMA Awarded through the Megafauna Marina Ecuador Foundation. USD 10000 https://www.waittfoundation.org/roc-grants The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Instituto Politécnico Nacional fellowship (COFAA, EDI). FGM USD 1000. https://www.ipn.mx/ The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.