Tuna: Yellowfin

Ahi, Ahi Tuna

Maguro, Toro

The yellowfin is a large tuna, found throughout the world’s tropical open oceans. The four stocks of yellowfin comprise the western and central Pacific, eastern Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Ocean stocks. Yellowfin matures at an early age, has a moderate lifespan, is highly fecund, and is widely distributed, making it inherently resilient to fishing pressure. However, the various yellowfin fisheries globally vary in their sustainability. The most sustainable of these is the US Atlantic fishery , which catches yellowfin by troll/pole. Troll and pole gear has minimal habitat impacts and bycatch, and the US stock status is a moderate concern. The longline and purse seine fisheries for yellowfin are associated with moderate to critical concerns with bycatch and ecosystem impacts. Yellowfin tuna can also be caught by hand lines (Hawaii). Management of yellowfin tuna is complicated and varies by ocean basin.

Their wide distribution, very rapid sexual maturity, relatively short life, widely-dispersed spawning grounds, and broadcast spawning system make yellowfin tuna inherently resistant to fishing pressure.

There are varying levels of stock status depending on region. These stock levels do not change the overall rank of yellowfin.

ATLANTIC: There are moderate concerns due to the uncertainty associated with this stock, as it is approaching an overfished condition and overfishing may be occurring.

PACIFIC: In the western and central Pacific, yellowfin is not overfished but the stock is likely experiencing overfishing and stock uncertainty is high. Yellowfin in the eastern Pacific may be overfished and the current level of fishing effort exceeds sustainable limits.

INDIAN: There is considerable uncertainty associated with the status of yellowfin tuna in the Indian Ocean. Catches have continued to increase beyond recommended limits.

Longlining has impacted endangered sea turtles in the central Pacific and Gulf of Mexico, and there is concern about the impact of pelagic longlining on endangered Pacific albatrosses and other seabirds. International fleets have very little observer coverage and there has been little effort to reduce bycatch of endangered species in these fleets.

Pelagic longlining is believed to have negligible effects on benthic habitat. The ecosystem effects of removing large predators such as tuna, billfishes and sharks remains a cause for concern.

Population and catch data are available from the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific fisheries, but not from the Indian Ocean. For the most part, management has failed to maintain population levels of yellowfin tuna. Bycatch is still considered a major problem in all fisheries except for those capturing yellowfin using trolling gear.

What kind of Tuna is this?

Where was it caught?

How was it caught?

Consumption advisory due to mercury. + Kids age 6-12 should eat no more than 2 meals per month + Kids up to age 6 should eat no more than 1 meal per month + Women should eat no more than 4 meals per month + Men should eat no more than 3 meals per month

No.