Tuna: Bluefin, Atlantic

Atun de aleta azul, Horse mackerel

Kuromaguro, Honmaguro, Toro

There are three species of bluefin tuna: Southern, Atlantic, and Pacific.

Atlantic and Pacific bluefin are found in the northern waters of their respective oceans, while southern bluefin tuna are found in the southern waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as in the Indian Ocean.

Bluefin tuna are highly migratory, crossing international borders along their migrations, and are targeted in various fisheries worldwide with a number of different gear types: purse seines, pelagic longlines, trolls, handlines, pole and line gear, and harpoons. Each of these gear types results in different levels of bycatch and habitat effects. Bycatch of threatened sea turtles, seabirds, sharks and billfish is of particular concern. Overall, bluefin tuna is ranked as moderately vulnerable to fishing pressure. Status of the stocks is also of serious concern for all species.

The combination of high to critical bycatch concerns, poor management and poor stock conditions results in an overall recommendation of “Avoid” for all three species of bluefin tuna.

Atlantic bluefin are relatively long-lived and highly fecund. Bluefin have a broad range in the open ocean and high quality habitat available. They tend to aggregate in specific areas to spawn, which makes the species more vulnerable to fisheries. However, there is an overall lack of knowledge about many aspects of Atlantic bluefin’s life history, which makes predicting the effect of fishing pressure difficult.

There is no good estimate for maximum sustainable yield for either eastern or western Atlantic bluefin. Fisheries catch and effort data are spotty, and stock assessments are based on very little data. The data that is available show that both the eastern and western Atlantic bluefin stocks are overfished and overfishing is occurring. Trends in population abundance are down and there is a heavy take of juveniles.

Pelagic longline gear causes the highest concern in bluefin fisheries as they have been shown to frequently catch non-target species. While gear modifications and closures are in place to reduce bycatch of endangered species in the U.S., these measures are not being implemented by international vessels.

While efforts to reduce bycatch in the longline fishery have been made, catch of Bluefin still regularly exceeds quotas and enforcement is weak. Stock assessments in recent years have also been non-existent or very uncertain. Both the eastern and western stocks of Atlantic Bluefin tuna are at historical lows and little improvement is in sight.

What kind of tuna is this?

Bluefin tuna should always be avoided.

Elevated mercury and PCB levels + Men should limit intake to less than 1/2 a meal per month + Women and kids under 12 should not eat at all

No.