Yellow Fin Tuna

Fact File:

Common Name(s):Yellow Fin Tuna

Scientific Name:
Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre, 1788)

Usual Size:
To 200cm but common to 150cm

UK Record Weights from rod/line:

Shore:

Boat:

MAFF Minimum Size: Shore: Boat:

Identification:
Typical tunny shape. A large tuna species, with some of the larger fish having dorsal and anal fins which can become well over 20% of the total fork length. Pectoral fins moderately long reaching beyond second the start of the dorsal fin. Swim bladder present. Colour: back metallic blue, which changes through to yellow and silver on the belly, which is crossed with approximately 20, broken, nearly vertical lines. Dorsal/anal fins and dorsal/anal finlets bright yellow with a narrow black border.

Breeding:
Egg dispersal - throughout the year. Fish over 120cm have attained maturity.

Habitat:Prefers a water temperature of between 18/31ºC and can live above or below the thermocline. Effectively confined to the upper 100m of the water column. An oceanic species

Food:
Squid, Mackerels and other similar pelagic species

Range:
For the Eastern Atlantic from the southern coast of Spain down south to The Cape of Good Hope

Additional Notes:
Although none have been caught on rod and line in British Waters one positively identified Yellow fin Tuna was washed ashore in 1972 on a beach in North Wales.

REFERENCES: FAO Species Catalogue 2 - Scombrids of The World - Collette/Nauen

Fishes of the North-Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean - Whitehead, Bauchot, Hureau, Nielsen, Tortonese

Key to the Fishes of Northern Europe - Wheeler

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