A close-kin markrecapture pilot study for Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna

A close-kin mark-recapture (CKMR) design study completed in 2022 estimated that the collection of 25,000 to 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 (WPM) 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, and levels of cross contamination of DNA. The WPM is invited to provide feedback on this proposal.