Preliminary stock assessment of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) in the Indian Ocean by SCAA (Statistical-Catch-At-Age) (1950-2017)

We preliminary attempted stock assessment for yellowfin tuna (YFT) in the Indian Ocean using SCAA (Statistical-Catch-At-Age) with available data for 68 years (1950-2017). It is preliminary suggested that YFT stock status (2017) is lightly overfished, i.e., the red zone in the Kobe plot but very close to both MSY levels (F and SSB) with F (2017)/Fmsy=1.08 and SSB (2017)/SSBmsy=0.88.