Tuna

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Bluefin, Yellowfin, Bigeye, Skipjack, Longfin Albacore and other Tuna Fish

This page has information on tuna including Bluefin, Yellowfin, Bigeye, Skipjack, Longfin Albacore and other species

About Tuna 

In the USA, several species of tuna are landed including bluefin, yellowfin, blackfin, skipjack tuna and longfin albacore. Each fish has unique characteristics in terms of behavior and fishing techniques. Seafood lovers will also find that each fish has a distinct taste and appearance.

Cooking and Enjoying Tuna 

Tuna is consumed in a variety of ways. Tuna is the most well known and available fish in the USA and many other parts of the world due to it's popularity as a canned product. Most of us grew up on tuna salad sandwiches and associate that experience with tuna as a meal.

Readers that have been lucky enough to enjoy fresh caught tuna know that there is quite a difference between a canned tuna salad sandwich and a fresh grilled tuna steak!

Fresh tuna is delicious grilled, blackened, or as sushi. Those of us that still love tuna salad can enjoy tuna from the can or use leftover grilled tuna to create a unique and delightful tuna salad with a unique flavor.

Smoked fish lovers will be thrilled to know that tuna is excellent smoked. The finished product makes wonderful smoked fish dips, salads or just eaten cold as is.

Bluefin Tuna 

bluefin tuna



Bluefin tuna are noted for having a large, torpedo-shaped body that is nearly circular in cross-section. The fish is dark blueish-black on the back and white on the lower sides and belly. On live bluefin, a pattern of lines alternate with rows of spots on the lower sides. The second dorsal fin is reddish brown. The color of the dorsal fin, the number of gill rakers on the first arch, and the very short pectoral fins separate this species from other members of the tuna genus, Thunnus.

Atlantic bluefin tuna sometimes exceed 1000 pounds and 9 feet in length. They are long lived pelagic fish that live and migrate in the open ocean. Atlantic bluefin tuna is the highest valued Atlantic tuna species in the market. Depending on regulations, bluefin tuna are caught with purse seines, handgear (rod and reel, handline, and harpoon), and longlines. Bluefin is low in sodium and is a source of vitamins A, B6, and B12, selenium, niacin, and phosphorous.

Tuna Fishing Books 

Offshore Pursuit A Guide to Fishing Atlantic Blue Water by John Unkart

Offshore Pursuit A Guide to Fishing Atlantic Blue Water by John Unkart

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Yellowfin Tuna 

yellowfin tuna



Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) are found in open waters of tropical and subtropical seas worldwide. Yellowfin Tuna reach lengths of more than 8 feet and can weigh over 400 lbs.

The body of yellowfin tuna are very dark metallic blue, changing to silver on the belly. The body is often strikingly marked with a pattern of vertical lines. The fish get their name from the coloration of the second dorsal fin and the anal fin which are bright yellow. The dorsal and anal fins and be very long in mature fish, and fish displaying this aspect are sometimes refered to as "allison tuna" by fishermen. Yellowfin tuna are also known as ahi in Hawaii.

Yellowfin tuna tend to school in large schools, sometimes with other species of tuna or other fish. They also travel with dolphins, porpoises or whales. The fish eat other fish, crustaceans, and squid.

Yellowfin tuna are a favorite among anglers in many parts of the USA and worldwide. Their aggressive feeding habits sometimes get them in trouble as anglers are able to fool feeding fish that would otherwise shy away from fishing line and other visible signs of danger.

Longfin Albacore Tuna 

albacore tuna



Albacore is a highly migratory species. It can be found in the cooler tropical waters, and is always on the move, seeking for best feeding and spawning grounds.

Due to its white colored meat albacore is also called "chicken of the sea". Albacore is popular in the States, where it is marketed as "White Tuna" and sold as canned products.

Offshore Saltwater Fish 

Skipjack Tuna 

Skipjack tuna are small but highly migratory tuna which can be found in tropical waters.

Large schools sometimes mix with small yellowfin. Normally dolphins do not swim together with the small skipjack, which almost makes it a guaranteed dolphin-safe species.

The meat of the skipjack has a somewhat darker of color sometimes even slightly pinkish. It has a relatively tender texture, and is has somewhat more a fishy taste then some other tuna species.

The small size of the fish gives small loins and chunks, making it well suited for canned tuna.

Guy Harvey Offshore Fishing T Shirts 

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Dr. William T. Hogarth, Director of NOAA Fisheries Service on Tuna 

Dr. William T. Hogarth, Director of NOAA Fisheries Service, head of the U.S. delegation to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, and chairman of ICCAT has issued a statement regarding the need for stronger conservation measures in the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery. In particular, he calls for a three-to-five year moratorium on eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna fisheries. Given continued blatant violations of catch limits, closed areas, and reporting requirements in the eastern Atlantic fisheries, international cooperation to support a moratorium is urgently needed. ICCAT scientists have noted a high risk of stock collapse if overfishing in these areas is allowed to continue. Because the western stock of bluefin tuna intermixes with the much larger eastern stock, there is also serious concern about the impact of uncontrolled eastern bluefin catches on bluefin tuna caught by U.S. fishermen in the western Atlantic.

Hogarth discusses the proposed moratorium in greater detail in his column, Bill's Corner.

Saltwater Fishing Lenses 

Tuna Fishing - Virginia Style 

"I wasn't quite expecting this" was the remark from our angler as we fitted him to the harness and urged him to be patient as the bluefin steadily took line off the reel, with no sign of stopping.

We had pushed hard to be among the first boats to set lines off the Virginia coast on this overcast July morning. We had set the center line, locally known as the way-way back or simply WWB. The rig consists of a bird, daisy chain of artificial squid and green machine. Within seconds of placing the rod in the rod holder, and before we could set the second line, we were hooked up to a nice bluefin tuna.

Moments later we boated our second fish, a #40 class yellowfin on another daisy chain as the bulk of the fleet were about to throttle back and begin setting lines. This was tuna fishing - Virginia style.

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Tuna Fishing-Virginia Style

Seafood News 

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2010 ICCAT Conservation Measures for Bluefin Tuna and Other Species 

At its annual meeting, which ended late Sunday November 15, ICCAT adopted the following agreements:

ICCAT has agreed to a total allowable catch limit of 13,500 metric tons for eastern Atlantic Mediterranean bluefin tuna, down from the 2009 limit of 22,000 metric tons. Importantly, this measure also commits to a science-based catch level for 2011 to 2013 with a 60 percent probability of rebuilding the stock to healthy levels by 2023, lengthens the existing purse seine fishing closure for 30 days during the critical spawning period, freezes all joint fishing operations to enhance compliance, and commits to reducing fishing capacity.

ICCAT adopted a science-based rebuilding program for northern albacore tuna intended to rebuild the stock within 10 years and strong conservation and management measures for Bigeye tuna that reduces harvest levels in line with scientific advice.

ICCAT adopted a new process for providing scientific advice that will give managers clear information on the levels of risk and the timeframes involved in meeting fisheries management goals. This is a key step towards better incorporating precautionary and science-based management approaches.

source: NOAA press release

Commercial Fishing News 

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2009 Tuna Conference 

The Tuna Conference, sponsored annually by the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA/NMFS and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, is a meeting of persons with scientific or commercial interest in tunas and tuna fisheries.

The Tuna Conference is a forum for discussing progress in research on all aspects of tunas and other large pelagic marine species. The informal setting at the Lake Arrowhead Conference Center provides a unique opportunity to present ongoing results and developing theories, allowing for stimulating interchange of views and opinions.

The conference will be held from May 18-21, 2009 at the Lake Arrowhead Conference Center in California. The conference topic for 2009 will be "High-Tech Science for the Large Pelagics: What Have We Learned From It and How Should It Be Integrated Into Management and Conservation?".

For more information see www.tunaconference.org/

Tuna Organizations 

Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
The IATTC, established by international convention in 1950, is responsible for the conservation and management of fisheries for tunas and other species taken by tuna-fishing vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Tag-A-Giant Foundation
The Tag-A-Giant Foundation is committed to reversing the decline of northern bluefin tuna populations by supporting the scientific research necessary to develop innovative and effective policy and conservation initiatives.

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