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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing

provided by AnAge articles
Maximum longevity: 9 years (wild)
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de Magalhaes, J. P.
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Biology

provided by Arkive
The yellowfin tuna is a schooling fish, and has a strong tendency to aggregate with fish of the same size, rather that just school with other yellowfin tunas (2). They can often be seen swimming near the surface with other tunas, such as skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)and bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus). Large yellowfin tunas have also been seen with porpoises or dolphins, particularly the spotted, spinner and common dolphins (2) (4). Schools of yellowfin tuna under floating debris are also often observed (4). This powerful swimmer is an opportunistic predator, feeding on a wide variety of fish, squid, cuttlefish, octopus, shrimp, lobster and oceanic crabs (2). Some of the fish consumed include pilchard, anchovy, mackerel, and even other tunas (2). They apparently locate their food simply by sight, as they search for food primarily in the surface waters during daylight (2). Spawning in yellowfin tuna populations can occur at any time of the year, but is most frequent during the summer months in each hemisphere (4). Each female releases several million eggs each year into the ocean (2), which are fertilized by the sperm released by the males. Yellowfin tuna juveniles grow quickly, reaching a weight of 3.4 kilograms in 18 months (2).
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Conservation

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Like the other tuna species, yellowfin tuna fisheries are managed by international bodies: the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) in the Atlantic (5), the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) in the eastern Pacific (6), and the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) in the Indian Ocean (7). The management measures in place have, for the large part, successfully maintained populations of the yellowfin tuna (8).
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Description

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The yellowfin tuna is a fish built for speed and endurance (3). Its streamlined body is metallic dark blue on the back, blending into yellow or silver on the belly. The belly is patterned with numerous broken lines (4), and a vivid golden stripe runs along each side of the body, from the eye to the tail (2). The yellowfin tuna has two dorsal fins, the second one of which can be very long and is situated directly over the long anal fin. The pectoral fins, those found on each side of the body, are also long, often reaching beyond the space between the two dorsal fins (4) (2). The fins can be retracted so that water flows even more smoothly over its body when swimming (3). Tiny fins, (or finlets), run down the top and bottom side of the body, from the second dorsal fin and the anal fin to the tail. These finlets, along with the dorsal and anal fins, are bright yellow, giving this fish its common name (4). The finlets are bordered by a narrow black band (4).
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Habitat

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The yellowfin tuna inhabits the epipelagic zone of the ocean, at temperatures between 18 and 31 degrees Celsius (4). It generally occurs at depths less than 100 metres (2).
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Range

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The yellowfin tuna is found worldwide, in tropical and subtropical waters from latitudes of 40°N to 35°S, although it does not occur in the Mediterranean Sea (2) (4).
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Status

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Classified as Lower Risk / Least Concern (LR/lc) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1).
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Threats

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The yellowfin tuna is a popular and important target for commercial fisheries (2) (4). Around 35 countries have fisheries for this tuna species, with Japan and the USA bringing in the largest catches (4). While the IUCN classifies the yellowfin tuna as not currently threatened (1), a reduction in catches per unit effort in certain areas suggests that some yellowfin stocks may be decreasing (4).
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Migration

provided by EOL authors

they are capable of migrating more than 500 miles in 12 month period.

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Diagnostic Description

provided by FAO species catalogs
Gillrakers 26 to 34 on first arch. A large species, deepest near middle of first dorsal fin base. Some large specimens have very long second dorsal and anal fins, which can become well over 20% of fork length; pectoral fins moderately long, usually reaching beyond second dorsal fin origin but not beyond end of its base, usually 22 to 31% of fork length. Swimbladder present. No striations on ventral surface of liver. Vertebrae 18 precaudal plus 21 caudal. Colour: back metallic dark blue changing through yellow to silver on belly; belly frequently crossed by about 20 broken, nearly vertical lines; dorsal and anal fins, and dorsal and anal finlets, bright yellow, the finlets with a narrow black border.

References

  • Cole, 1980 (Pacific, summarizes i.e.growth parameter estimates)
  • Mimura et al . , 1963 (Indian Ocean)
  • Schaefer, Broadhead & Orange, 1963 (Pacific)
  • Sharp, 1978 (describes the relation between vulnerability to surface gear, schooling, and environmental processes)
  • Vilela & Frade, 1963 (eastern Atlantic)

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FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of Tunas, Mackerels, Bonitos and related species known to date.Collette, B.B.  &  C.E. Nauen 1983..  FAO Fish. Synop., (125)Vol.2:137 p.
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Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
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Distribution

provided by FAO species catalogs
Worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas, but absent from the Mediterranean Sea.
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FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of Tunas, Mackerels, Bonitos and related species known to date.Collette, B.B.  &  C.E. Nauen 1983..  FAO Fish. Synop., (125)Vol.2:137 p.
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Size

provided by FAO species catalogs
Maximum fork length is over 200 cm. The all-tackle angling record was a 176.4 kg fish of 208 cm fork length taken off the west coast of Mexico in 1977. Common to 150 cm fork length. Off the Philippines and Central America, the smallest mature fish were found within the size group from 50 to 60 cm fork length at an age of roughly 12 to 15 months (Davidoff, 1963), but between 70 and 100 cm fork length the percentage of mature individuals is much higher. All fish over 120 cm attain sexual maturity.
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FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of Tunas, Mackerels, Bonitos and related species known to date.Collette, B.B.  &  C.E. Nauen 1983..  FAO Fish. Synop., (125)Vol.2:137 p.
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Brief Summary

provided by FAO species catalogs
Epipelagic, oceanic, above and below the thermocline. The thermal boundaries of occurrence are roughly 18° and 31°C. Vertical distribution appears to be influenced by the thermal structure of the water column, as is shown by the close correlation between the vulnerability of the fish to purse seine capture, the depth of the mixed layer, and the strength of the temperature gradient within the thermocline. Yellowfin tuna are essentially confined to the upper 100 m of the water column in areas with marked oxyclines, since oxygen concentrations less than 2 ml/l encountered below the thermocline and strong thermocline gradients tend to exclude their presence in waters below the discontinuity layer. Larval distribution in equatorial waters is transoceanic the year round, but there are seasonal changes in larval density in subtropical waters. It is believed that the larvae occur exclusively in the warm water sphere, that is, above the thermocline. Schooling occurs more commonly in near-surface waters, primarily by size, either in monospecific or multispecies groups. In some areas, i.e. eastern Pacific, larger fish (greater than 85 cm fork length) frequently school with porpoises. Association with floating debris and other objects is also observed. Although the distribution of yellowfin tuna in the Pacific is nearly continuous, lack of evidence for long-ranging east-west or north-south migrations of adults suggests that there may not be much exchange between the yellowfin tuna from the eastern and the central Pacific, nor between those from the western and the central Pacific. This hints at the existence of subpopulations. Spawning occurs throughout the year in the core areas of distribution, but peaks are always observed in the northern and southern summer months respectively. Joseph (1968) gives a relationship between size and fecundity of yellowfin tuna in the eastern Pacific.
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FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of Tunas, Mackerels, Bonitos and related species known to date.Collette, B.B.  &  C.E. Nauen 1983..  FAO Fish. Synop., (125)Vol.2:137 p.
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Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
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Benefits

provided by FAO species catalogs
There are important yellowfin tuna fisheries throughout tropical and subtropical seas. The most important catches (well over 100 000 t) are recorded from Fishing Areas 71 (321,458 t in 1995), 51 (250,353 t) and 77 (198,696 t). Landings have been steadily increasing since 1970 to 1990 when exceeded 1,000,000 t. In the recent years the catches seem to be stabilized around this quantity. Near-surface schooling yellowfin tuna are captured primarily with purse seines and by pole-and-line fishing, while trolling and gillnetting are of much lesser importance. The 1979 eastern Pacific surface fleet numbered 259 purse seiners, 45 bait boats, and 17 other vessels flying 16 flags. The carrying capacity of this fleet amounted to 169 149 t. Purse seining is increasing in the western Pacific, initially taking mainly skipjack and bluefin tuna. In 1982, the yellowfin tuna catch by US purse seiners in this area probably exceeded that of skipjack tuna, and the total purse seine catch of yellowfin by all vessels may have been higher than that of bluefin tuna. Pole-and-line fishing is still one of the major surface fishing techniques for yellowfin tuna in the Pacific, even though this method is declining in overall importance throughout the world. The most important fishing method for deep swimming yellowfin tuna is longlining, primarily by vessels from Japan, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan (Province of China). Although these fisheries operate virtually throughout the geographical range of the species, the largest catches are made in the equatorial waters of the Pacific.The total catch reported for this species to FAO for 1999 was 1 258 386 t. The countries with the largest catches were Indonesia (176 320 t) and Mexico (121 884 t).
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FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of Tunas, Mackerels, Bonitos and related species known to date.Collette, B.B.  &  C.E. Nauen 1983..  FAO Fish. Synop., (125)Vol.2:137 p.
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Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
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Diagnostic Description

provided by Fishbase
This large species is distinguished by the following characters: elongate, fusiform body, slightly compressed laterally; total gill rakers on first gill arch 26-34; dorsal fins 2 and separated only by a narrow interspace, the second followed by 8-10 finlets; anal fin followed by 7 to 10 finlets; large specimens may have very long second dorsal and anal fins, becoming well over 20% of fork length; pectoral fins moderately long, usually reaching beyond second dorsal-fin origin but not beyond end of its base, usually 22-31% of FL; 2 flaps (interpelvic process) between pelvic fins; body with very small scales; corselet of larger scales developed but not very distinct; caudal peduncle very slender, bearing on each side a strong lateral keel between 2 smaller keels; no striations on ventral surface of liver; swimbladder present. Colour of back metallic dark blue changing through yellow to silver on belly; belly frequently crossed by about 20 broken, nearly vertical lines; dorsal and anal fins, and dorsal and anal finlets bright yellow, the finlets with a narrow black border (Ref. 9684).
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Life Cycle

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Spawn throughout the tropical and equatorial waters of the major oceans (Ref. 6390). At higher latitudes, spawning is seasonal, with peaks in summer; may continue throughout the year at lower latitudes (Ref. 6390).Yellowfin tuna are multiple spawners, ie they spawn every few days over the spawning period (Ref. 6390). Eggs and sperm are released into the water for fertilisation (Ref. 6390).
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Migration

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Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.
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Morphology

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Dorsal spines (total): 11 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 16; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 11 - 16; Vertebrae: 39
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Trophic Strategy

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Confined to the upper 250 m (Ref. 6390) of the water column in areas with marked oxyclines, since oxygen concentrations less than 2 ml/l encountered below the thermocline and strong thermocline gradients tend to exclude their presence in waters below the discontinuity layer. Feed during the day and at night (diurnal and nocturnal). In Hawaii, adults more common in late spring through early fall; juveniles common in fall and winter (Ref. 4887).Yellowfin tuna smaller than 15 kg often form surface schools of similar sized fish (Ref. 6390). Schools may be mono-specific (ie, consist of only 1 species) or include other tunas, such as skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis) (Ref. 6390). Dolphins often associate with surface feeding schools in the eastern Pacific Ocean, but a similar association is not found in the western Pacific (Ref. 6390).Off southeastern Australia, adult yellowfin tuna tend to be more solitary (Ref. 6390). Fish larger than 15 kg inhabit the deeper waters above the thermocline and tend not to school in Australian waters (Ref. 6390).A behavioural study in Hawaiian waters using ultrasonic tags (Ref. 30307) showed that during the day yellowin tuna inhabited waters just above the thermocline (50-90 m), with occasional short descents to depths as great as 250 m (Ref. 6390). At night, the tuna tended to stay within 50 m of the surface (Ref. 6390).Large concentrations of larvae and eggs are reported from the western Pacific, including the Coral Sea, and from the Indian Ocean adjacebt to Australia's North West Shelf (Ref. 30274).Tagged yellowfin tuna have been reported to move 1000 km or more over a 12-month period, but no directed migration has been demonstrated (Ref. 6390). Recoveries from a tagging study of yellowfin tuna on the Australian east coast between 27°S and 38°S suggested that most yellowfin tuna form local groups that moved no more than a few hundred miles over several years (Ref. 6390). This northward and southward movement of yellowfin tuna along the south-eastern Australian coast is probably associated with the seasonal movement of the warm East Australian Current (Ref. 30310). Also Ref. 10406.
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Biology

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An oceanic species occurring above and below the thermoclines. Pelagic in open water , but rarely seen near reefs (Ref. 48637). They school primarily by size, either in monospecific or multi-species groups. Larger fish frequently school with porpoises, also associated with floating debris and other objects. Feed on fishes, crustaceans and squids. It is sensitive to low concentrations of oxygen and therefore is not usually caught below 250 m in the tropics (Ref. 28952, 30329). Peak spawning occurs during the summer, in batches (Ref. 9684, 51846). Eggs and larvae are pelagic (Ref. 6769). Encircling nets are employed to catch schools near the surface (Ref. 9340). Caught mainly with longlines and purse seines. Marketed mainly fresh, frozen, canned (Ref. 9684), but also smoked (Ref. 9987). Highly valued for sashimi (Ref. 26938).
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Importance

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fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: experimental; gamefish: yes; price category: high; price reliability: reliable: based on ex-vessel price for this species
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分布

provided by The Fish Database of Taiwan
廣泛分布於全世界各熱帶及亞熱帶海域,其範圍涵蓋北緯40°-南緯40°間,唯地中海缺如。台灣各地均產,尤以東部及南部產量最多。
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臺灣魚類資料庫
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利用

provided by The Fish Database of Taiwan
熱帶及亞熱帶海域是重要之漁獲物,全世界年產量超過500,000公噸。一般漁法包括延繩釣、圍網及流刺網等。可作生魚片或加工以及各種烹煮調理皆宜。
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描述

provided by The Fish Database of Taiwan
體紡錘形,肥壯,橫切面近圓形,稍側扁;尾柄細,平扁,每側具發達的中央隆起脊,尾鰭基部每側另具小隆起脊2條。眼中大。上下頜各具細小尖齒一列。鰓耙正常,第一鰓弓上之鰓耙數為26-34。體被細小圓鱗,頭部無鱗,胸部鱗片特大,形成胸甲。第一背鰭具硬棘XIII-XIV,與第二背鰭起點距離相當近,其後具8-10個離鰭;臀鰭與第二背鰭同形,皆延長而呈鐮刀形,顯然較胸鰭為長;胸鰭較頭長為長,幼時延伸至第二背鰭基底中部下方,成魚則延伸至第二背鰭起點下方;尾鰭新月形。體背側藍黑色,腹部銀白色,尾叉長小於70公分者,其體側有銀白色點及橫帶。第二背鰭、臀鰭及離鰭均為黃色;餘鰭灰色或灰黑。
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棲地

provided by The Fish Database of Taiwan
大洋中上層洄游性魚類。主要活躍於躍溫層上下方之水域,常出現水域之水溫約在18℃-31℃之間,常因水團溫度之改變而有垂直分布現象。以洄游性之小型魚類,如鯖等為食,亦捕食甲殼類及頭足類等。
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Yellowfin tuna

provided by wikipedia EN

The yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) is a species of tuna found in pelagic waters of tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide.

Yellowfin is often marketed as ahi, from the Hawaiian ʻahi, a name also used there for the closely related bigeye tuna.[3] The species name, albacares ("white meat") can also lead to confusion: in English, the albacore (Thunnus alalunga) is a different species, while yellowfin is officially designated albacore in French and referred to as albacora by Portuguese fishermen.

Description

The yellowfin tuna is among the larger tuna species, reaching weights over 180 kg (400 lb), but is significantly smaller than the Atlantic and Pacific bluefin tunas, which can reach over 450 kg (990 lb), and slightly smaller than the bigeye tuna and the southern bluefin tuna.

The second dorsal fin and the anal fin, as well as the finlets between those fins and the tail, are bright yellow, giving this fish its common name. The second dorsal and anal fins can be very long in mature specimens, reaching almost as far back as the tail and giving the appearance of sickles or scimitars. The pectoral fins are also longer than the related bluefin tuna, but not as long as those of the albacore. The main body is a very dark metallic blue, changing to silver on the belly, which has about 20 vertical lines.

Reported sizes in the literature have ranged as high as 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) in length and 200 kg (440 lb) in weight. The all-tackle International Game Fish Association (IGFA) record for this species stands at 193.68 kg (427.0 lb) for a yellowfin caught in 2012 off Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The fisherman received a prize of $1 million once the catch was confirmed by the IGFA.[4][5]

Habitat

Yellowfin tuna are epipelagic fish that inhabit the mixed surface layer of the ocean above the thermocline. Sonic tracking has found that although yellowfin tuna, unlike the related bigeye tuna, mostly range in the top 100 m (330 ft) of the water column,[6] another study reported that depth tends to vary with time of day: 90% of their recorded depth values were shallower than 88 m (289 ft) during the night, and shallower than 190 m (620 ft) during the day.[7]

Although yellowfin tuna penetrate the thermocline relatively infrequently, they are capable of diving to considerable depths. An individual tagged in the Indian Ocean with an archival tag spent 85% of its time in depths shallower than 75 m (246 ft), but was recorded as having made three dives to 578, 982, and 1,160 m (3,810 ft).[6] The maximum dive depth measured in a second study was 1,592 m (5,223 ft).[8][7]

Yellowfin tuna jumping
Photo of a few dozen fish swimming in dark water
Schooling yellowfin tuna

Behavior

Although mainly found in deep offshore waters, yellowfin tuna may approach shore when suitable conditions exist. Mid-ocean islands such as the Hawaiian archipelago, other island groups in the Western Pacific, Caribbean, and Maldives islands Indian Ocean, as well as the volcanic islands of the Atlantic such as Ascension Island and Saint Helena, often harbor yellowfin feeding on the baitfish these spots concentrate close to the shoreline. Yellowfin may venture well inshore of the continental shelf when water temperature and clarity are suitable and food is abundant.

Yellowfin tuna often travel in schools with similarly sized companions. They sometimes school with other tuna species and mixed schools of small yellowfin, and skipjack tuna, in particular, are commonplace. They are often associated with various species of dolphins or porpoises, as well as with larger marine creatures such as whales and whale sharks. They also associate with drifting flotsam such as logs and pallets, and sonic tagging indicates some follow moving vessels. Hawaiian yellowfins associate with anchored fish aggregation devices and with certain sections of the 50-fathom curve.

Diet and predation

Yellowfin tuna at an aquarium in Japan

Yellowfin tuna prey include other fish, pelagic crustaceans, and squid. Like all tunas, their body shape is particularly adapted for speed, enabling them to pursue and capture fast-moving baitfish such as flying fish, sauries, and mackerel. Schooling species such as myctophids or lanternfish and similar pelagic driftfish, anchovies, and sardines are frequently taken. Large yellowfins prey on smaller members of the tuna family such as frigate mackerel and skipjack tuna.

In turn, yellowfin are preyed upon when young by other pelagic hunters, including larger tuna, seabirds, and predatory fishes such as wahoo, shark, and billfish. Adults are threatened only by the largest and fastest hunters, such as toothed whales, particularly the false killer whale, pelagic sharks such as the mako and great white, large Atlantic blue marlin and Pacific blue marlin, and black marlin. The main source of mortality, however, is industrial tuna fisheries.

Yellowfins are able to escape most predators because of their speed, swimming at up to 20.8 m/s (47 mph).[9] Unlike most fish, tuna are warm-blooded.[10] Their unique cardiovascular system, warm body temperature, elevated metabolism, and well-developed lymphatic system are all involved in their ability to engage in both rapid bursts and long periods of swimming. When swimming rapidly, a tuna's fins retract into grooves to form a smooth aerodynamic surface and increase its speed, due to a biological hydraulic system involving the lymphatic system.[11][12]

The behavior of abruptly diving to deeper levels may be a tactic to escape predators. Evidence from trackers even includes a case in which a diving yellowfin tuna may have been swallowed at a depth of 326 m (1,070 ft).[8][7]

Commercial fishery

Yellowfin tuna loaded onto a truck for transportation in Palabuhanratu, West Java

Modern commercial fisheries catch yellowfin tuna with encircling nets (purse seines), and by industrial longlines. In 2010, 558,761 metric tons of yellowfin tuna were caught in the western and central Pacific Ocean.[10]

Pole and line

Formerly, much of the commercial catch was made by pole-and-line fishing, using live bait such as anchovy to attract schools of tuna close to the fishing vessel that were then taken with baited jigs on sturdy bamboo or fiberglass poles or on handlines. This fishery, which targeted skipjack and occasionally albacore, as well as yellowfin, for canning, reached its heyday between World War I and the 1950s before declining. The most well-known fleet of pole-and-line boats sailed from San Diego[13] in California and exploited abundant stocks in Mexican waters, as well as further south to Panama, Costa Rica, and the Galapagos Islands.[14]

Pole-and-line fishing is still carried out today in the Maldives, Ghana, the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Azores. Few pole-and-line boats now specifically target yellowfin, an incidental take compared to the total commercial catch. In the Maldives, the catch is a mix of skipjack tuna and small yellowfins that often associate with them.

Purse seining

Juvenile yellowfin caught with purse seine near the Philippines
A yellowfin being weighed at the General Santos Fish Port Complex in General Santos, the center of the tuna industry in the Philippines which is the world's 4th largest producer of canned and fresh-chilled tuna products[15][16]

Purse seining largely took over commercial tuna fisheries in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, purse seines account for more of the commercial catch than any other method. The purse-seine fishery primarily operates in the Pacific Ocean, in the historic tuna grounds of the San Diego tuna fleet in the eastern Pacific, and in the islands of the western Pacific, where many U.S. tuna canneries relocated in the 1980s, but significant purse-seine catches are also made in the Indian Ocean and in the tropical Atlantic Ocean, especially in the Gulf of Guinea by French and Spanish vessels.

Purse-seine vessels locate tuna using onboard lookouts, as was done in the pole-and-line fishery, but they also employ sophisticated onboard electronics, sea-surface temperature and other satellite data, and helicopters overhead. Once a school is located, the net is set around it. A single set may yield 100 t (98 long tons; 110 short tons). Modern tuna seiners have a capacity up to 2,000 metric tons (2,000 long tons; 2,200 short tons), reach speeds of over 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph), and carry multiple spotting helicopters.[17]

Purse seining for yellowfin tuna became highly controversial in the late 1970s when it became apparent that the eastern Pacific fishery was killing many spinner dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins, and other cetaceans (often called "porpoises" by the tuna fleet) that accompany the fish. This association has been long-recognized by commercial tuna fishermen.

Dolphin-friendly labeling

Since the introduction of "dolphin-friendly" labeling, an increasing number of purse seine sets are now made on "free schools" unassociated with dolphins, as well as schools that associate with floating objects—another long-understood association that has grown in importance in tuna fisheries. The latter practice in particular has a major ecological impact because of the high proportion of bycatch, including manta rays, sea turtles, pelagic sharks, billfish, and other threatened marine species taken by setting nets around logs and other floating objects. Such tuna are often significantly smaller than the larger adult tuna associated with dolphins. The removal of huge numbers of juvenile yellowfin and bigeye tuna that have yet to reach breeding age has major potential consequences for tuna stocks worldwide.

Longline

Most of the commercial catch is canned, but the sashimi marketplace adds significant demand for high-quality fish. This market is primarily supplied by industrial tuna longline vessels.

Industrial longlining was primarily perfected by Japanese fishermen who expanded into new grounds in the Western Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Longlining has since been adopted by other fishermen, most notably South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States.

Tuna longlining targets larger sashimi-grade fish around 25 kg (55 lb) and up that swim deeper in the water column. In tropical and warm temperate areas, the more valuable bigeyes are often the main target, but significant effort is also directed towards larger yellowfins. Longlining seeks areas of higher ocean productivity indicated by temperature and chlorophyll fronts formed by upwellings, ocean current eddies, and major bathymetric features. Satellite imaging technology is the primary tool for locating these dynamic and constantly changing ocean areas.

Bycatch is a major environmental issue in the longline fishery, especially impacting billfish, sea turtles, pelagic sharks, and seabirds.

Artisanal fisheries

Besides the large-scale industrial purse seine and longline fisheries, yellowfin tuna also support smaller-scale artisanal fisheries that have often supplied local domestic markets for generations. Artisanal fisheries now also often fish for the lucrative sashimi market in many locations where international air shipment is possible.

Artisanal fishermen tend to employ assorted hook-and-line gear such as trolling lines, surface and deep handlines, and longlines.

By far, the largest fishery using artisanal methods exists in Philippine and Indonesian waters where thousands of fishermen target yellowfin tuna around fish aggregation devices or payaos, although this fishery far exceeds the artisanal scale in terms of tonnage caught and the numbers of participants involved, and should more properly be considered a commercial handline fishery. General Santos is the most important Philippine port for the landing and transhipment of catches. Catches that qualify as sashimi-grade are mostly shipped to the Japanese market; those that do not meet the grade are sold locally or canned. Elsewhere in the Pacific, small-boat fishers in Hawaii, Tahiti, and other Pacific islands supply local and in some cases foreign markets with fresh yellowfins.

Handline-caught yellowfin tuna is one of the few exports of the economy of St. Helena.

Sport fishing

Yellowfin tuna probably first came to the attention of sport fishermen when they appeared on the tuna grounds of Catalina Island, California, only a few years after pioneering fishermen invented the sport, targeting the Pacific bluefin tuna. These tuna were of the same species caught by commercial fishermen in Japan and the western Pacific, but the reason for their appearance was not known at the time. Later, warmer water species such as yellowfin tuna, dorado and striped marlin were found to enter southern California waters in seasons having favorable ocean conditions, particularly during the El Niño phenomenon, which brings warmer water up North America's western coast.

Yellowfin tuna were subsequently discovered by sport fishermen in Bermuda, the Bahamas, Hawai'i, and many other parts of their range. Larger adult fish which had developed distinctively long sickle fins were initially thought to be a different species and were known as Allison tuna (a name first given by the then curator of the Bermuda Aquarium, Louis Mowbray, in 1920). Such destinations as Hawai'i and Bermuda became famed for their catches of these beautiful fish. In Hawai'i, various styles of feather lures served as bait, but in Bermuda, chumming techniques from boats anchored on productive banks were evolved to target not only Allison tuna, but also wahoo and the smaller blackfin tuna. Bermudian experts developed techniques to take all these fish on light tackle, and for many years the International Game Fish Association records for yellowfin tuna were dominated by entries from Bermuda in the lighter line classes, with fish in the 200 lb (91 kg) and larger class from Hawai'i taking most of the heavier line-class records.

Today, yellowfin tuna are a major sport fish pursued by sport fishermen in many parts of the world. Thousands of anglers fish for yellowfin tuna along the eastern seaboard of the United States, particularly in North Carolina and New England. Yellowfin are also a popular gamefish among anglers fishing from US Gulf Coast ports, San Diego, and other ports of southern California. Larger "long-range" boats in the San Diego fleet also fish in Mexican waters, searching for yellowfin tuna in many of the grounds that the San Diego pole-and-line tuna clippers used to fish. The yellowfin tuna is also a highly prized catch in the offshore sport fisheries of South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Sport fishing for yellowfin tuna exists on a smaller scale in many other parts of the world.

Gulf of Mexico

Recreational fishing for Yellowfin Tuna in the Gulf of Mexico is a significant contributor to the region's economy, with an estimated economic impact of $7 billion annually.[18] This type of fishing has led to the development of a thriving tourism industry, with many fishing charters and resorts offering guided trips and equipment rental services to visitors.

Yellowfin Tuna are highly sought after for their impressive size and excellent taste, making them a popular target for recreational anglers. The thrill of reeling in a massive Yellowfin Tuna has attracted many fishing enthusiasts to the Gulf of Mexico, creating a significant source of revenue for local businesses and communities. To ensure the sustainability of Yellowfin Tuna populations in the Gulf of Mexico, many fishing organizations have implemented catch limits and other measures to protect these fish for future generations of recreational fishermen to enjoy.

Clubs

During the early 1900's many yellowfin tuna fishing clubs were formed around the world. In 1917, the Yokohama Fishing Club was founded, becoming the first fishing club in Japan to cater to foreigners. The Tuna Club of Avalon, which was founded in 1898 in Avalon, California played an instrumental role in the development of the sport in North America. While in Europe The Club Nautico de San Remo in Italy and the Club Nautique de Cannes in France are two of the earliest known clubs to organize yellowfin tuna fishing tournaments in these countries, with the first tournaments held in the late 1960s.[2]

Cuisine

According to the Hawaii Seafood Buyers Guide, yellowfin tuna is widely used in raw fish dishes, especially sashimi. This fish is also excellent for grilling.[3] Yellowfin is often served seared rare.

Yellowfin buyers recognize two grades, "sashimi grade" and "other", although variation in the quality of "other" grades occurs.

Different seafood sustainability guides come to different conclusions about whether yellowfin fishing is sustainable. The Audubon's Seafood Guide (a guide for what types of marine food products are not ecofriendly) lists troll-caught tuna as "OK", but labels long-line caught as "Be Careful".[19]

Yellowfin is becoming a popular replacement for the severely depleted supplies of southern bluefin tuna.

In 2010, Greenpeace International added the yellowfin tuna to its seafood red list. The Greenpeace International seafood red list is a "list of fish that are commonly sold in supermarkets around the world, and which have a very high risk of being sourced from unsustainable fisheries".[20]

References

  1. ^ Collette, B.B.; Boustany, A.; Fox, W.; Graves, J.; Juan Jorda, M.; Restrepo, V. (2021). "Thunnus albacares". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T21857A46624561. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T21857A46624561.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2018). "Thunnus albacares" in FishBase. February 2018 version.
  3. ^ a b [1] Archived March 31, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Mazur, Mike (21 December 2012). "All-Tackle Yellowfin Tuna Record Approved -- Will It Net Angler $1 Million?". Sport Fishing Mag. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Tuna, yellowfin (Thunnus albacares)". International Game Fish Association. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  6. ^ a b Dagorn, Laurent; Holland, Kim N.; Hallier, Jean-Pierre; Taquet, Marc; Moreno, Gala; Sancho, Gorka; Itano, David G.; Aumeeruddy, Riaz; Girard, Charlotte; Million, Julien; Fonteneau, Alain (1 January 2006). "Deep diving behavior observed in yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)". Aquatic Living Resources. 19 (1): 85–88. doi:10.1051/alr:2006008. ISSN 0990-7440. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Lam, Chi Hin; Tam, Clayward; Kobayashi, Donald R.; Lutcavage, Molly E. (2020). "Complex Dispersal of Adult Yellowfin Tuna From the Main Hawaiian Islands". Frontiers in Marine Science. 7. doi:10.3389/fmars.2020.00138. ISSN 2296-7745.
  8. ^ a b Pain, Stephanie (31 May 2022). "Call of the deep". Knowable Magazine. Annual Reviews. doi:10.1146/knowable-052622-3. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  9. ^ Wardle, C. S.; Videler, J. J. (April 1980). "How do fish break the speed limit?". Nature. 284 (5755): 445–447. Bibcode:1980Natur.284..445W. doi:10.1038/284445a0. ISSN 1476-4687. S2CID 4265820. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  10. ^ a b Service, Shannon (2 April 2013). "The Saudi Arabia of Sashimi". Slate. Retrieved 2013-10-28.
  11. ^ Kubota, Taylor (20 July 2017). "Tuna fin movement controlled by biological hydraulic systems". Stanford News. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  12. ^ Pavlov, Vadim; Rosental, Benyamin; Hansen, Nathaniel F.; Beers, Jody M.; Parish, George; Rowbotham, Ian; Block, Barbara A. (21 July 2017). "Hydraulic control of tuna fins: A role for the lymphatic system in vertebrate locomotion". Science. 357 (6348): 310–314. Bibcode:2017Sci...357..310P. doi:10.1126/science.aak9607. ISSN 0036-8075. PMC 5833934. PMID 28729512.
  13. ^ "Pole Fishing for Tuna, 1937–1941 | San Diego History Center". Sandiegohistory.org. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
  14. ^ "The High Seas Tuna Fishery of California1". Content.cdlib.org. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
  15. ^ Espejo, Edwin (16 March 2013). "Why GenSan is the tuna capital of the PH". Rappler. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  16. ^ "The Rise and Possible Fall of the Philippines' Tuna Capital". AsiaSentinel. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  17. ^ "2200T Super Tuna Purse Seiners". Cfsb.com.tw. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
  18. ^ FishingTrips.com. "FishingTrips®". FishingTrips®. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  19. ^ "The Audubon Guide to Seafood". Spc.int. 2011-12-02. Archived from the original on March 19, 2007. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
  20. ^ "Greenpeace International Seafood Red list | Greenpeace International". Greenpeace.org. 2008-08-15. Retrieved 2013-10-28.
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Yellowfin tuna: Brief Summary

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The yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) is a species of tuna found in pelagic waters of tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide.

Yellowfin is often marketed as ahi, from the Hawaiian ʻahi, a name also used there for the closely related bigeye tuna. The species name, albacares ("white meat") can also lead to confusion: in English, the albacore (Thunnus alalunga) is a different species, while yellowfin is officially designated albacore in French and referred to as albacora by Portuguese fishermen.

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Description

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Schools in near-surface waters as well as below the thermoclime, with temperatures between 18° and 31°C, primarily by size, either in monospecific or multispecies groups. Larger fish frequently school with porpoises, also associated with floating debris and other objects. Feeds on fishes, crustaceans and squids. It is sensitive to low concentrations of oxygen and therefore is often limited to depths of 100 m (Ref. 9340). Peak spawning occurs during the summer, in batches (Ref. 9684). Pole-and-line fishing is still one of the major surface fishing techniques while longlining fishing method is for deep swimming yellowfin tuna. Encirling nets are employed to catch schools near the surface (Ref. 9340). Marketed mainly frozen and canned (Ref. 9684), but also fresh (Ref. 9340) and smoked (Ref. 9987).

Reference

Froese, R. & D. Pauly (Editors). (2023). FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. version (02/2023).

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Diet

provided by World Register of Marine Species
Feed on fishes, crustaceans and squids. It is sensitive to low concentrations of oxygen and therefore is not usually caught below 250 m in the tropics

Reference

North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)

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Distribution

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Worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas, but absent from the Mediterranean Sea

Reference

North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)

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Habitat

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An oceanic species occurring above and below the thermoclines. They school primarily by size, either in monospecific or multispecies groups. Larger fish frequently school with porpoises, also associated with floating debris and other objects.

Reference

North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)

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Habitat

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nektonic

Reference

North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)

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Habitat

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Known from seamounts and knolls

Reference

Stocks, K. 2009. Seamounts Online: an online information system for seamount biology. Version 2009-1. World Wide Web electronic publication.

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