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Common name - Tuna, General
Scientific name - Thunnus spp
Average rating
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Visit Fishonline for the full range of options available for this species.
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
Tuna is highly sought after and forms the basis of many fisheries world-wide. World catches have doubled in the last decade. All 7 commercially fished species are under pressure and bluefin are listed by IUCN - the World Conservation Union: Northern bluefin assessed as Endangered in the east Atlantic and Critically Endangered in the west Atlantic and Southern bluefin assessed as Critically Endangered. Bluefin tuna are also listed by OSPAR as a threatened and declining species. Tuna farming or ranching of southern and northern bluefin relies on capture of juveniles from the wild for on-growing in sea cages. Avoid eating. For the most sustainable tuna choose skipjack, yellowfin or albacore tuna from pole & line or troll-caught fisheries and always look for the Marine Stewardship Council logo. For more information on specific tuna species, please search by name (e.g. yellowfin tuna).
Alternatives
(Based on method of production, fish type, and consumer rating: only fish rated 3 and below are included.)
Visit Fishonline, the website for the seafood industry, for more detailed information about this species.