Distribution

Published: 26.03.2012

Facts about Bluefin Tuna

Latin Name: Thunnus thynnus
Spawning Area: Warm waters (> 24 ° C) on specific and limited locations in the Mediterranean around the Balearic Islands, Sicily, Malta, Cyprus, and Libya.
Growing Area: Mediterranean Sea, coast of Portugal and Bay of Biscay
Maximum Size: Over 3 m / Over 500 kg
Life Span: 20-30 years
Diet: Zooplankton and small fish as juveniles; mature fish prey on schooling fish such as mackerel, herring, and sprat.

Status, advice and fisheries

Reported annual international landings of eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna from 2006 through 2010 show a clear trend of decrease. However, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) estimates that catches up to 2007 were likely to on the order of 50,000 to 61,000 tons annually − based on the number of vessels operating in the Mediterranean Sea and their respective catch rates. A shift toward harvesting larger fish has developed during recent years.