A close-kin mark-recapture pilot study for Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna

A close-kin mark-recapture (CKMR) design study completed in 2022 estimated that the collection of approximately 30,000 samples per year from Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna, over a five-year period, would provide an estimate of absolute abundance with an acceptable level of precision. The Working Party on Methods and Working Party on Tropical Tunas noted the logistical challenges in collecting this many samples and suggested a staged approach to the implementation of CKMR for yellowfin tuna. This paper outlines a proposal for the implementation of a CKMR pilot project for Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna to evaluate the logistics and feasibility of sampling, including as assessment of the quality of the DNA collected from key locations. The Scientific Committee is invited to provide feedback on this proposal.