Albacore tuna | Good Fish Guide | The consumer guide to sustainable seafood

Common name - Albacore tuna

Scientific name - Thunnus alalunga

Average rating

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Consumer Information

For the most sustainable tuna choose skipjack, yellowfin or albacore tuna from pole & line or troll-caught fisheries and look for the MSC logo and ?dolphin safe' tuna. Many tuna fisheries from the Indian Ocean (except albacore) are in a healthy state and being fished sustainably. Tuna belong to the Scombridae family and are related to mackerel. They are large, oceanic fish and are seasonally migratory, some making trans-oceanic journeys. Tuna is highly sought after and forms the basis of many world-wide fisheries. Consequently, all 7 commercially fished species are under pressure. Of most concern though are the slower growing and generally decreasing stocks of northern (Atlantic) bluefin, southern bluefin, and bigeye tunas. Southern bluefin is listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN); northern (Atlantic) bluefin listed as Endangered; and bigeye as Vulnerable. For detailed information on specific regions and fish stocks, please see our FishOnline site.

Summary

Albacore grow a little more slowly and reproduce a little later than skipjack and yellowfin tunas, making them more susceptible to overfishing. Most stocks are healthy with varying degrees of management. However, both the Indian Ocean and the North Atlantic (including the Meditterranean) stocks are currently overfished and not effectively managed. Avoid albacore from these fisheries. Of concern in albacore fisheries is the bycatch of protected, endangered and threatened species such as large sharks, turtles and birds caught in the longline fisheries. Longline fisheries can reduce bycatch by adopting measures such as: dyeing the bait; use of tori lines (bird streamers); setting lines at night; use of circle hooks; use of weighted lines; and regular inspection of the gear. The best choice is albacore caught using surface troll or pole & line, or albacore from MSC certified fisheries in the Norh and South Pacific.

Alternatives

(Based on method of production, fish type, and consumer rating: only fish rated 3 and below are included.)

Common dolphinfish or dorado or mahi mahi
Skipjack tuna
Swordfish
Tuna, General
Yellowfin tuna

Visit Fishonline, the website for the seafood industry, for more detailed information about this species.