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¹ Halu Oleo University, Faculty of Fishery and Marine Science, Fish Resources Management, Kendari, Indonesia (93231)
² Halu Oleo University, Faculty of Fishery and Marine Science, Fishery Agrobusiness, Kendari, Indonesia (93231) DOI : 10.4194/TRJFAS29004 Viewed : 208 - Downloaded : 205 Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) is a critical fishery resource in Indonesia’s Fisheries Management Area 714 (FMA-714), requiring science-based management. This study provides the first comprehensive yield-per-recruit (Y/R) and biomass-per-recruit (B/R) analysis for the stock, using monthly length-frequency data from 24,052 fish collected over 72 months (2019–2024). The ELEFAN method yielded key parameters, including moderate growth parameters (L∞ = 84.5 cm, K = 1.35 year⁻¹, C = 0.42, and ts = 0.58), high mortality rates (Z = 3.422 year⁻¹, M = 1.543 year⁻¹, and F = 1.879 year⁻¹), and an exploitation rate (E) of 0.549, which exceeds the precautionary limit of 0.5. The current fishing mortality is substantially higher than both the optimal (Fmax = 1.110 year⁻¹) and precautionary (F₀.₁ = 0.789 year⁻¹) reference points, indicating a state of growth overfishing. With F being 138.1% above the conservative F₀.₁ target, our analysis reveals a stock under severe pressure, requiring immediate management intervention. We recommend a 58% reduction in fishing mortality to align with the F₀.₁ target. Adopting these scientifically-derived reference points into a formal management strategy is crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainability of this vital fishery. Keywords : Biological reference point Growth overfishing Length frequency Seasonal oscillation Simulated annealing