Genetic variation in skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis (L.) using PCR-RFLP analysis of the mitochondrial DNA D-loop region

A high level of genetic diversity was observed in Katsuwonus pelamis populations from India (h = 0.952, ne = 14.3) and Japan (h = 0.897, ne = 8.9). The log-likelihood (G)-based exact test revealed significant heterogeneity in the distribution of haplotypes between the two populations (P < 0.01, s.e. = 0.001). This result suggests that the two populations should now be treated as demographically independent and managed separately.