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Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Known for their torpedo-shaped bodies, the Atlantic bluefin tuna is the largest of the tuna species!

 

These fish are historically found throughout much of the Atlantic Ocean, ranging from Canada to Brazil in the Western Atlantic to Norway, Cabo Verde, and West Africa in the Eastern Atlantic. However, some populations in the western and southern parts of their range have largely disappeared. A highly migratory species, populations travel between cool foraging grounds and warmer breeding grounds when it is time to spawn. Atlantic bluefin tuna can grow up to 4 meters (13 feet) and weigh up to 907 kilograms (2,000 pounds). While they are the largest of the tuna species, they grow more slowly than other species and generally don’t reproduce until they are about 8 years old. Each year during spawning season, females may produce up to 10 million eggs, which hatch in about two days.

These fish can often be found near the water’s surface in temperate waters but are also known to dive to depths of 500-1,000 meters (1,640-3280 feet) and prey on schooling fish — like herring and mackerel — squid, and red crabs. In turn, they are preyed upon larger predators like sharks, killer whales, and larger fish. Their ability to reach high speeds helps them both catch their prey and outswim their predators.

 

 

The Atlantic bluefin tuna faces high fishing pressures from numerous fisheries around the world. In fact, the Western Atlantic stock has declined by up to 83% over the past several decades, raising high concern. However, since the Eastern Atlantic stock which comprises 80% of the global population has remained strong, the species is not currently considered threatened.

 

 

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) has put several measures in place to manage the species both in the Western Atlantic and Eastern Atlantic. Careful reporting and management of this fishery is critical to allowing depleted populations to recover and for harvest to be sustainable. As this species is also subject to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, measures to increase fisheries’ transparency and seafood traceability are also critical to rebuilding this stock. Oceana campaigns to mitigate the effects of overfishing around the world through fisheries management plans and catch limits as well as to stop illegal fishing and require traceability for all seafood to ensure that it’s safe, legally caught, responsibly sourced, and honestly labeled.

 

 

 

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