{"id":2494,"date":"2007-07-31T16:25:00","date_gmt":"2007-07-31T16:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whalewatchingazores.com\/blog\/2007\/07\/31\/tuna-general-fact-shee\/"},"modified":"2020-03-02T16:46:41","modified_gmt":"2020-03-02T17:46:41","slug":"tuna-general-fact-shee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whalewatchingazores.com\/blog\/tuna-general-fact-shee\/","title":{"rendered":"Tuna general fact sheet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Thunnus albacares\u00a0<\/em>| Yellowfin tuna<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The yellowfin tuna<\/a> can reach a maximum length of 3.2 m and a maximum weight of 190 kg. The yellowfin tuna can be identified at surface by the brilliant yellow colour of the second dorsal fin, which is more elongated than in other tuna species. They are migratory and pelagic and can be found in waters with depths of up to 800 m (although they pass the majority of their time in the upper 100 m of the water column). They may approach coastlines, but they are most often seen in open ocean and in the vicinity of seamounts. They are distributed throughout subtropical and tropical waters of the world, except in the Mediterranean. The time of spawning peaks during the summer months, with a single female releasing millions of eggs at a time (almost exclusively at night). This species is well known to gather with groups of dolphins during feeding frenzies. In the Azores, yellowfin tuna are normally seen between April and October. The local minimum catch limit is 3.2 kg. They feed on smaller pelagic fish, such as Atlantic chub mackerel<\/a>, blue jack mackerel<\/a>, boar fish<\/a> and cephalopods (squid<\/a> and octopus) in the Azores. Reproduction is\u00a0oviparous with external fertilization (162,918 \u2013 8,062,026 eggs per spawning) and they can live to be 8 years.\u00a0Conservation status:\u00a0Near Threatened.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thunnus thynnus\u00a0<\/em>| Bluefin tuna<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0bluefin tuna<\/a>\u00a0reaches a length of 2 – 3 m (maximum 6.79 m) and weighs betweem 136 and 680 kg. The bluefin tuna is one of the most well adapted species of tuna in the world, and also the most appreciated by mankind. It’s the largest species of tuna and can dive to about 914 m deep. It is estimated that bluefin tuna can reach speeds up to 50 km\/h. This species is highly migratory and is homeothermic, meaning that it is capable of regulating its body temperatur relative to its enviroment. Bluefin tuna can be seen in more northern latitudes \u00a0than any other tuna species. During the reproductive period individuals group up in large schools, making them more vulnerable to overfishing. In the Azores, bluefin tuna occur year-round, but are more common from the end of March to the end of April, and occasionally from the end of September to the end of October. The individuals that occur in the Azores reproduce in the Mediterranean. Bluefin tuna feed on fish such as skipjack, Atlantic chub mackerel<\/a>, herring, sea bass, flying fish<\/a>, mullets, squid<\/a> and eels. Reproduction is oviparous with external fertilization (spawning \u00a0up to 90 egg per gram of body weight (more then others in the genus\u00a0Thunnus<\/em>). They can live to be at least 35 years old but possibly up to 50 years (breeding age: Western Atlantic 8 – 12 years and Eastern Atlantic 3 – 5 years). Conservation: Endangered and declining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thunnus obesus\u00a0<\/em>| Bigeye tuna<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The bigeye tuna<\/a> can reach a maximum length of 2.39 m and weigh 30\u00a0\u2013\u00a0130 (in the Azores) (maximum weight is 210 kg).\u00a0The bigeye tuna has a metalic blue colouration on its dorsal and a white ventral. They can be distinguished from other tuna species by the presence of an irridescent blue longitudinal band and its eyes which are larger than in other tuna species. They occur in waters ranging from 13 – 29\u00b0\u00a0C, with the ideal range 17 – 22\u00b0\u00a0C, and can dive down to about 500 m deep. Bigeye tuna are distributed throughout the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, but they do not occur in the Mediterranean. They prefer open ocean, but can also be in coastal waters, especially around oceanic banks and seamounts. Spawning can occur several months with a frequency of every day of second day. Bigeye tuna is highly valued \u00a0in the fishing industry and in the Azores it is the second most captured tuna species, after the skipjack tuna. In the Azores they may be found between April and October but are most abundant from mid April to mid June.\u00a0Bigeye tuna feed on smaller pelagic fish, such as Atlantic chub mackerel<\/a>, blue jack mackere<\/a>l, boar fish<\/a> and cephalopods (squid<\/a> and octopus) in the Azores.\u00a0Reproduction is oviparous with external fertilization (Average 2.9 \u2013 6.3 million eggs\/spawning). Longevity:\u00a0Western pacific: 16 years,\u00a0Indian Ocean: 8 years,\u00a0Atlantic Ocean: 9 years,\u00a0Eastern Pacific: 5 years.\u00a0Conservation status:\u00a0Vulnerable (population decreasing).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thunnus alalunga\u00a0<\/em>| Albacore<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The albacore<\/a> can reach a length of 1.2 \u2013 1.4 m and weigh 40 \u2013 60 kg. The albacore tuna, or simply albacore is characterised by having very long pectoral fins, leading to its name in portuguese “atum voador” which means “flying tuna”. This species is known for its tireless fighting during the fishing season. They are found mostly in the upper 100 m of the water column, but can dive down to 800 m. Albacore inhabit tropical to subtropical regions with surface waters typically ranging from 15.6\u02da\u00a0C to 19.4\u02da\u00a0C, although they can tolerate temperatures as low as 9.5\u02da\u00a0C for short periods. This species is highly migratory, travelling in large groups\/schools, typically more then 20 miles off the coastline. Albacore occur in the Azores during April and again from September to December, in coastal zones, open water and around seamounts. At the beginning of July they travel southwest to Spain, between July and August they travel to the Bay of Biscay and in the winter they migrate to the Caribbean. Albacore feed in the Azores on small pelagic fish, especially chub mackerel<\/a>, blue jack mackerel<\/a>, boar fish<\/a> and cephalopods (squid<\/a> and octopus).\u00a0Albacore can live between 9 \u2013 13 years. Conservation status:\u00a0Near threatened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other languages (yellowfin<\/a> | bluefin<\/a> | bigeye<\/a> | albacore<\/a>)<\/strong>
Portuguese:\u00a0Atum-de-galha-\u00e0-r\u00e9 | Atum-rabilho\u00a0| Patudo | \u00a0Voador
Spanish: At\u00fan de aleta amarilla\u00a0| At\u00fan azul | At\u00fan patudo\u00a0| At\u00fan blanco
French:\u00a0\u00a0Thon jaune\u00a0| Thon rouge du Nord\u00a0|\u00a0Thon ob\u00e8se\u00a0|\u00a0germon\/thon blanc
Italian: Tonno pinna gialla\u00a0| Tonno rosso\u00a0| Tonno obeso | Alalunga\/alalonga
German:\u00a0Gelbflossen-Thun\u00a0|\u00a0Rote Thun |\u00a0Gro\u00dfaugen-Thun |\u00a0Wei\u00dfe Thun\/Langflossenthun
Dutch:\u00a0\u00a0Geelvintonijn\u00a0| Blauwvintonijn\u00a0| Grootoogtonijn | Witte tonijn
Swedish: Gulfenad tonfisk\u00a0| R\u00f6d tonfisk eller\u00a0bl\u00e5fenad tonfisk\u00a0|\u00a0Stor\u00f6gd tonfisk |\u00a0L\u00e5ngfenad tonfisk
Norwegian:\u00a0\u00a0Gulfinnetun\u00a0|\u00a0Makrellst\u00f8rje\u00a0|\u00a0Stor\u00f8yd tunfisk | Albakor
Danish:\u00a0\u00a0–\u00a0| – | – | –
Finnish:\u00a0\u00a0Keltaev\u00e4tonnikala\u00a0|\u00a0Tonnikala\u00a0|\u00a0Isosilm\u00e4tonnikala | Valkotonnikala
Polish:\u00a0Tu\u0144czyk \u017c\u00f3\u0142top\u0142etwy\u00a0|\u00a0Tu\u0144czyk pospolity\u00a0| \u00a0– \u00a0|\u00a0Tu\u0144czyk bia\u0142y
Russian:\u00a0\u00a0\u0416\u0435\u043b\u0442\u043e\u043f\u0451\u0440\u044b\u0439 \u0442\u0443\u043d\u0435\u0446\u00a0|\u00a0\u041e\u0431\u044b\u043a\u043d\u043e\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0442\u0443\u043d\u0435\u0446\u00a0|\u00a0\u0411\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0448\u0435\u0433\u043b\u0430\u0437\u044b\u0439 \u0442\u0443\u043d\u0435\u0446 |\u00a0\u0414\u043b\u0438\u043d\u043d\u043e\u043f\u0451\u0440\u044b\u0439 \u0442\u0443\u043d\u0435\u0446<\/p>\n\n\n\n