Population Structure of Indian Mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) in Java and Bali Island, Indonesia Inferred from Otolith Shape

The Indian mackerel, Rastrelliger kanagurta, is a commercially important resource across Indonesia's archipelagic waters. Despite its essential role in the fisheries industry, information regarding population structures for management purposes still limited. present study investigates variability of otolith shape as an efficient tool stock discrimination. A total 159 pairs sagittal were sampled at four localities along southern Java-Bali coastal Otolith outline was modeled by using Wavelet coefficients and compared between ANOVA-like permutation test, Canonical Analysis Principal Coordinates (CAP), classification test performed linear discriminant analysis. results showed significant differences populations, reflected explicitly morphological feature excisura major. examined from all (ANOVA-like, p<0.001, CAP p>0.05), except those otoliths Palabuhanratu Pacitan, thus, mixed may occur these two locations. These findings also confirmed low success rate LDA 44.26%. suggested that least distinct stocks potentially contributed to fishery, impacting species conservation.