Yellowfin tuna is considered a single population in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) for stock assessment purposes (Vincent et al. 2020 and references cited therein), although there is still uncertainty about the stock structure along the Pacific Ocean.

The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) is an Oceania subregional agreement between the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvatu, and the Marshall Islands. The PNA coordinates the implementation of management measures with a view to enhancing economic benefits from the fishery. Member countries of the PNA have adopted and implemented distinct Vessel Day Schemes for the longline and purse seine fisheries, whereby they allocate fishing days to a country which are sold to the highest bidder. The PNA unassociated (free school) fishery was MSC certified in 2011. All the PNA parties are Members of the WCPFC.

In Indonesia, yellowfin tuna distribution areas cover the waters of west and south of Sumatra, southern Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara, Banda Sea and Mallucas island’s sea, Sulawesi sea and western waters of Papua. The nature as a highly migratory species resulted in the possibility of mixing fish populations, especially for the territorial waters of Indonesia that have the characteristics of archipelagic waters directly adjacent to the ocean waters. Based on phylogenetic and population structure analysis, no genetic differentiation between the two populations in Ambon and North Moluccas Sea (Akbar and Aris 2018). (LP2T 2016), here is no difference in the structure of yellowfin tuna populations in FMA 572, FMA 573 and northern waters of Sulawesi (Bitung). Genetic data information of  yellowfin tuna obtained can be relied upon in resource management sustainable.