Photo from Bluefina

Originally Posted On: https://bluefina.com/interesting-facts-about-pacific-bluefin-tuna/

 

There are a vast variety of tuna species in the world and they live throughout the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans!

One of the most fascinating tuna species is the Pacific Bluefin Tuna. This species is known for their amazing migration — after birth, they swim across the Pacific Ocean to the California coast where they grow and feed!

But that’s not the only amazing fact about the Pacific Bluefin Tuna. Here are 8 other facts to know about this incredible fish.

1. Appearance

Pacific Bluefin Tuna get their name from their color. This fish is dark blue in color, though some fish of this species are black. Their dorsal sides are either dark blue or black and they have a gray-green iridescence. You can also easily identify a Pacific Bluefin Tuna by the small yellow fins with black edges. These fins run from the second dorsal fin all the way to the tail.

If you look at the underside of this tuna, you can see silver dots or bands on their bellies. Their eyes are smaller than other tuna species. They also have small pectoral fins; their pectoral fins don’t reach the front of the second dorsal fin.

2. They’re Often Eaten Raw

If you love tuna sushi, you’re in luck! The Pacific Bluefin Tuna is often eaten raw as sushi and sashimi. Though seared pacific bluefin is a treat unto itself. Like many types of fish, Pacific Bluefin Tuna has many parts to the fish that are named for their different texture, fat content and flavor. These include:

• Akami
• Chutoro
• Toro / Otoro

Each part of the Bluefin Tuna varies in price, especially the Toro and Chutoro.

Akami is the most common Pacific Bluefin Tuna cut, though Chutoro and Toro are the best quality cuts. Toro comes from the lower belly to the head and Chutoro comes from the belly at the center and rear.

Pacific Bluefin Tuna typically has a high-fat content, both saturated and healthy fats. However, this Bluefin Tuna is generally considered very healthy. It’s a very good source of thiamin, protein, vitamin B6, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

3. Fishing Standards and Regulations

Like many types of fish, Pacific Bluefin Tuna is a fish we need to carefully regulate to ensure they are not overfished. For many years Bluefin Tuna was overfished, but now fortunately, there are many regulatory organizations that oversee and monitor commercial fishing which is having a positive effect on the repopulation of pacific bluefin.

More commercial fisheries are becoming transparent in their fishing data. This is positive because it enables you to only support fisheries that have strict sustainability practices. It is important to understand where you purchase your Bluefin Tuna from, so that you are supporting the farms that abide by the highest sustainability practices. The best aquaculture farms will place digital barcodes on each fish so they can be traced from farm to table. This ensures you are purchasing your fish from a company that adheres to strict international fishing standards.

The best fisheries have strict harvest levels to protect the Pacific Bluefin population. In addition, they also support organizations that track and study this fish.

4. Feeding and Size

Pacific Bluefin Tuna are predatory animals. They mainly eat other fish and squid. Some of the other fish that Bluefin Tuna eat include anchovies, sardines, herring, saury, mackerel, pompanos, hake, and other tuna. Occasionally, Pacific Bluefin Tuna will eat krill and red crab.

Pacific Bluefin Tuna is one of the largest fish species in the world. Adults can reach 1.5 meters long (almost 5 feet). The largest Bluefin Tuna was 3 meters long (almost 10 feet). The average adult weighs about 60 kilograms (130 pounds) and the largest Pacific Bluefin weighed 450 kilograms (990 pounds).

5. Habitat

The Pacific Bluefin Tuna is a migratory species that is also found off the coast of Baja California, though this fish thrives in temperate and subtropical regions throughout the Pacific Ocean. You can also find Pacific Bluefin Tuna in the Tasman Sea and off the coast of New Zealand.

As stated previously, they stay off the Baja California coast until they reach adulthood. They mate off the coasts of Japan and The Philippines.

6. How Much Is Pacific Bluefin Tuna Worth?

There’s a reason why overfishing has been a problem for Pacific Bluefin Tuna — this fish is worth a lot of money. One tuna has sold for $1.75 million, though this is not common. Why is the Pacific Bluefin so expensive? Well, there’s not a lot of them. This fish species doesn’t breed quickly, resulting in a generally low population. However, with better data reporting, more research, and conservation efforts, we’re preserving this species.

7. Why They’re Important

The Pacific Bluefin Tuna is vital to marine ecosystems. Because they’re a predator, they maintain balance in the ecosystem. This is why conserving their population is essential.

In addition, the Pacific Bluefin Tuna has predators other than humans. Orcas, sharks, and pilot whales enjoy chowing down on this fish as much as humans. This feeding helps balance the ecosystem even more.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy Pacific Bluefin Tuna. This fish is delicious; they have a distinctive meaty flavor, especially when eaten raw. That’s why Bluefin Tuna sushi is so popular!

Since this fish is worth a lot of money, they provide a generous livelihood for many commercial fisheries. As long as you support a fishery with sustainability practices, then you can enjoy Pacific Bluefin Tuna without the guilt!

8. Available Year-Round

While Pacific Bluefin Tuna doesn’t have a large population, the main benefit of this fish is they’re available year-round through aquaculture farms.

This fish is ideal for year-round fishing largely in part of its long life span. The average lifespan for the Pacific Bluefin is 15 years, though some fish have lived as long as 26 years. Even though they’re a very fast-moving fish, they travel in large schools.

Are You Looking for Quality and Sustainably Farmed Pacific Bluefin Tuna?

If you have been fortunate to taste the finest of anything in this world, it usually becomes a memorable experience. The finest champagne, the finest wine, the finest caviar, and maybe the world’s finest bluefin. If you’re a lover of fine Bluefin Tuna, you have probably tasted Bluefiná.

If your business is looking to sell high-quality Pacific Bluefin Tuna, you’re at the right place. We sell our tuna to many reputable vendors, including hi-end restaurants, premium supermarkets, and distributors throughout the US and Asia. Our Pacific Bluefin is guaranteed fresh and we have strict preservation promises.

For more information about our tuna and our conservation ideals, feel free to contact us.