A Complete Guide To 5 Common Types Of Tuna Species

This type of marine fish is part of the mackerel Scombridae family just like albacore and bonito. Tuna particularly is part of the Thunnini subgroup. There are several tuna species including some nomadic ones that don’t spend long in a single place but more frequently to new locations. The common tuna species today live in the subtropical and temperate water bodies including Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean. Tuna can grow to very large sizes. Atlantic bluefin tuna can reach about two meters long and weigh about 250 kilograms. Larger species have been recorded with the largest tuna ever recorded reaching 21 feet long and weighing about 1,600 pounds. Regardless of the large size, tuna is agile and swim very fast to cover long distances at high speeds reaching about 62 miles per hour. Tuna feeds on crustaceans, squids, and smaller fish like mackerel, hake, and herring. Common types of tuna consumedSkipjack tuna This is the smallest and most abundant commercial tuna species. The scientific name for skipjack tuna is Katsuwonas pelamis. This fish has a streamlined body without scales with a back with dark purple-blue color. The lower side and belly of skipjack tuna is silver with four to six bands on a closer look. This tuna species lives in in the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans with majority near the equator. The lifespan of skipjack tuna is about eight to ten year. This tuna is the most common canned tuna product. Yellowfin tuna Its scientific name is Thunnus albacares and easily distinguished by its yellow sides, torpedo-shaped back with dark metallic blue color, and a silver belly. Yellowfin tuna has bright yellow finlets with very long anal and dorsal fins. This type of tuna has a lifespan of about six to seven years and is highly migratory. The best Maldives tuna is yellowfin and tuna fishing drives the country’s economy. Here, everyone from the fish processing companies and individual fishermen understands the importance of maintaining the quality of fish. Bluefin tuna This has three scientific names including Thunnus orientalis, Thunnus maccoyii, and Thunnus thynnus. This is the largest tuna species and can live up to 40 years. Bluefin tuna swims like a torpedo with retractable eyes flushing the body and fins. This type of tuna comes in other sub-species named according to origin including: Southern Bluefin or Thunnus maccoyiiAtlantic Bluefin or Thunnus thynnusPacific Bluefin or Thunnus orientalis Bluefin tuna from the Atlantic Ocean is at high risk of extinction. However, this tuna is a fierce predator given its large size and begins to hunt after hatching. This tuna feeds on schools of herring, eel, and mackerel. Bigeye tuna This tuna species lives for about 10 to 12 years and its scientific name is Thunnus obesus. Bigeye tuna lives in the tropical and subtropical areas in the Pacific, Indian, and the Atlantic Ocean. You can’t find it in the Mediterranean Sea. This tuna species is identified by its long and streamlined appearance. Additionally, bigeye tuna has an upper side and back with a dark metallic blue color. Its lower sides and belly are white. Albacore tuna This tuna species is identified by very long pectoral fins with a bullet-shaped body. The scientific name for albacore tuna is Thunnus alalunga and it’s smaller than other tuna species but bigger than skipjack and yellowfin tunas. Albacore tuna has a dark blue back with light blue-gray belly and sides. This tuna moves through all ocean waters in single species schools. Albacore tuna doesn’t mix with other tunas. rnUnderstanding the sustainability concerns of eating tunarnThere’s worldwide concern towards sustainability and eating tuna. This necessitates eating tuna from only sustainable sources like the Maldives. Here, tuna is fished using line and pole by teams of individual fishermen. This ensures that other species aren’t fished accidentally like in purse seining. In case other species are caught, it’s so easy to set it free back into the water. Pole and line fishing also eliminates chances of bycatch. Wrapping up The economy of the Maldives is driven by tuna fishing. There’s awareness of the needs for sustainable fishing practices to maintain standards. This initiative is spearheaded by the government and tuna exporting companies to give customers access to quality tuna all over the world.