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

Common name - Skipjack tuna

Scientific name - Euthynnus pelamis, Katsuwonus pelamis

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

Skipjack tuna is a fast growing species with a moderate to high resilience to fishing, and is therefore one of the best choices out of the commercially fished tuna species. Skipjack now accounts for the bulk of the world's tuna catches and all stocks are in a safe state, either under-fished or fully fished. Although currently in a good state, inadequate management and stock assessment for all skipjack stocks is an issue. For a species which represents the bulk of world tuna catch and consumption this is unacceptable, and needs to be addressed as increasing pressure is put on the species with a growing global population. Skipjack is predominantly caught using pole & line and purse seines. Pole & line is the best method to choose, as this is a very selective method with little bycatch. If you choose purse seine, make sure it is non-FAD (Fish Aggregation Device) fisheries, as this type of purse seining has a much higher rate of bycatch, often including other species of fish, juvenile tuna, sharks, turtles and dolphins. Look for MSC certified skipjack from the Maldives, Western and Central Pacific and Eastern Central Pacific Ocean.

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.