This project will develop cost-effective genetic markers to identify the sex of albacore (Thunnus</p><p>alalunga), which is key to improving the stock assessment of north Pacific albacore. Given the</p><p>ease of obtaining fin clips and taking advantage of cost and technology improvements in next</p><p>generation sequencing and bioinformatics analyses, we propose to develop genetic markers for</p><p>sex in north Pacific albacore tuna using similar methods developed for California yellowtail and</p><p>several species of abalone by SWFSC and other scientists. This proposed project is feasible</p><p>nowadays because accessibility to genomic resources has improved through decreasing</p><p>sequencing costs and enhanced bioinformatics analyses. Overall, our approach is to first</p><p>identify sex-linked markers for albacore by performing next generation DNA sequencing on</p><p>male and female albacore. Doing so will also result in a de novo draft genome assembly and</p><p>annotation for north Pacific albacore, and a data framework for future whole genome analyses.</p><p>Then use resequencing of 10 male and 10 female albacore to help identify and validate sex-</p><p>specific markers in the genome. Once the genetic markers are identified, we plan to initiate</p><p>collection of sex composition data from U.S. and international fisheries by sharing the genetic</p><p>markers and sampling kits with our international colleagues.