Bluefin tuna is widely known in the marine community, from SCUBA divers to sport fishermen, and is a prized species among advanced members of the latter group. But for all the bluefin tuna facts you know, there are plenty of things you may not know, so here are just five crazy bluefin tuna facts about this world-class migratory species.
Bluefin Tuna Facts
1. There isn’t just one bluefin tuna.
“Bluefin tuna” is actually a blanket term for four different types of fish under the genus Thunnus. These include the Southern tuna, the Pacific tuna, the Atlantic tuna, and the Longtail tuna. The Pacific tuna is the largest of these fish. This tuna can grow up to 9.8 feet in length.
2. Bluefin tuna is a long-life fish.
The lifespan of bluefin tuna can reach forty years. Their long lives allow them to migrate across entire oceans. Unfortunately, the ability of this tuna to live so long and swim so far has a drawback. It is difficult for scientists to track the migrating habits of this tuna, making conservation efforts for the fish difficult.
3. Bluefin tuna is a high-end delicacy food species.
Bluefin tuna is widely regarded as a specialty in Asia. Their flesh is ordinary in top-caliber sushi and sashimi. A single tuna can fetch 1.75 million dollars. This was as recent as 2013, when a Japanese chef paid for a 480-pound specimen. However, don’t expect those prices always to be so high. The high prices are sometimes publicity stunts to increase a restaurant’s prestige. Regardless, one fish can still sell for 70,000 dollars with little fanfare.
4. The bluefin tuna is endangered.
Bluefin tuna are endangered, and this is bad news. Their coveted culinary use makes them extremely lucrative for fishermen to search and capture. The number of these tuna is dwindling. On a moral level, seeing an entire species of fish wiped out by greed is disheartening. On a more pragmatic level, the loss of this tuna is distressing because they are one of the ocean’s top predators. The dwindling numbers of this tuna can influence the entire ocean ecosystem.
5. Bluefin tuna was once “junk” meat.
The bluefin hasn’t always suffered from such a popularity crisis. As recently as 1960, this tuna was sold for pennies a pound and ground up in cat food. Only the rise of sushi’s popularity created the current crisis.
