Polymorphism was detected at ND1, ND6, D‐loop and cyt b segments of mtDNA in 105 tench ( Tinca tinca L.), using the polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) technique and five composite haplotypes were identified. The diversity indices and the results of the population comparisons revealed that the identified markers provide a powerful tool for further studies on this species.