Abstract

Understanding the connectivity among populations of benthic marine organisms is essential for defining the stocks of commercially fished species. Such information allows for better management of commercial species’ populations. The cephalopod Octopus mimus Gould, 1852 is an economically important species exploited by artisanal fishing in northern Chile. To investigate the genetic structure and connectivity of O. mimus populations, we analyzed 6,573 SNPs from 88 octopus samples from the Arica to the Atacama Regions of northern Chile (18°S to 27°S). The results showed an absence of significant population structure, suggesting the existence of a single stock in the studied area. Based on our findings, we conclude that a particular region stands out as pivotal for fishing landings. This area aligns with its status as the primary source of migrants within the survey area. Thus, prioritizing management efforts in this zone is crucial for the sustainability of the octopus fisheries in this region. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025.