Albacore

Fact File:

Common Name(s): Albacore (Long-Fin Tuna)

Scientific Name: Thunnus alalunga (Bonnaterre, 1788)

Usual Size: To 127cm

UK Record Weights from rod/line:

Shore: 4lb 12oz

Boat: Vacant

MAFF Minimum Size: Shore: Boat:

Identification:

Typical tunny shape, pectoral fins very long and when depressed reach beyond the second dorsal fin. Poorly defined swim bladder, not evident in fish under 50cm.

Colour: faint lateral iridescent band runs along sides of the live fish - diminishes on death. The first dorsal fin is deep yellow second dorsal and anal fins bright yellow, and the anal finlets are dark. This is the only Tuna species with a white margin on the edge of the tail.

Breeding:
Egg dispersal of between 2/3 million per season.

Habitat:
Favours offshore waters with a surface temperature of 15 to 190C. They prefer clean silt free waters.

Food:
Anchovy, Squid, small fishes

Range:
From 450N to 300S - tropical and temperate ocean waters

Additional Notes:
Mainly found offshore in waters 17/210C

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


GuestBook / MessageBoards @ http://ukfishid.proboards84.com/index.cgi

 Return to the