Tuna in Pacific Islands

Different Tuna species in Pacific Islands

Have you ever wondered what type of Tuna we eat? Can you tell the difference between canned Tuna and Tuna sushi?

There are many Tuna species around the world from Atlantic to Pacific Oceans. Several species of fish are known as tuna, and many of them are commercially important as well as gamefish in Pacific Islands. Below is a list of Tuna species that are most commonly known.

Let’s learn more about different Tuna species!

1. Albacore  

Here is Albacore!
Although the name "Albacore" might not sound familiar to you, you can easily find this tuna in "white canner or pouched tuna. Albacore is well known for its mild flavor and white flesh, and just like other tuna fish, it is rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Albacore tuna migrate around different parts of the world, ranging from Mediterranean Seat to Pacific Ocean. However, most of the canned tuna that are brought to our dinner tables are caught in Pacific Ocean. Albacore tuna can grow up to 4.2 feet in length and weigh up to 88 pounds. Compared to other tuna fish, they tend to spend more time in the Atlantic Ocean than in the Mediterranean Sea. Albacore tuna prey on small fish or squids.

2. Yellowfin Tuna

Here is Yellowfin Tuna!
Along with Albacore, Yellowfin tuna can easily be found in canned tuna products and they may be called “Chunk Light Tuna.” As the name implies, Yellowfin tuna has a yellow stripe on its side, and dorsal and anal fins. Yellowfin tuna can grow up to 7.8 feet and weigh about 440 pounds. Yellowfin tuna are found throughout the world in tropical and subtropical ocean waters. Yellowfin tuna favor warmer water and tropical climate. Although Skipjack and Bigeye tuna fishes do not look like Yellowfin tuna, they tend to school together. Yellowfin tuna typically occupy the warm surface of all oceans.

3. Bigeye Tuna

Here is Bigeye Tuna!
The Bigeye Tuna look similar to the Yellowfin Tuna, but they often have larger eyes as the name implies. Bigeye Tuna are often found in warm tropical and subtropical waters not only in the Pacific Ocean, but also in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. However, they are not found in Mediterranean Sea unlike other Tuna species.
Bigeye Tuna can grow up to 7 feet and weigh about 400 pounds. They often vary in length. Although Bigeye Tuna is not a main source of canned tuna, they have been a victim of overfishing. Bigeye Tuna feed on various types of fishes.

4. Skipjack tuna

Here is Skijack Tuna!
Skipjack is the most commonly canned and pouched  tuna species in the United States. Compare to other tuna species, Skipjack tuna are a smaller tuna and they only grow up to 3 feet and weight about 41 pounds. Skipjack tuna are found in a wide range of waters including tropical and temperate oceans around the world, but they are most common in tropical waters. Skipjack tuna prefer warmer and well-mixed surface water. Sometimes, Skipjack tuna school up to 50,000 fish in the Pacific Ocean. Skipjack tuna travel across the ocean during their lifetime. Skipjack tuna have 4 or 6 stripes that are distinctive on their body from gills to tail. Skipjack prey on fish, but they are also the main food source to large fishes such as sharks.

5. Bluefin Tuna

Here is Bluefin Tuna!
You can find Bluefin Tuna in Japanese restaurant on Tuna Sushi or Sashimi menu. Unlike Bigeye and Yellowfin tuna, Bluefin tuna are not canned and almost exclusively used for sushi or sashimi dishes. Bluefin Tuna have a lighter flesh and mild flavor. Bluefin Tuna are found in oceans throughout the world and sometimes their range of migration is over 6,000 nautical miles (about 6,900 miles). This is not yet surprising if you know that Bluefin tuna can swim at the speed of 50 miles per hour. Also, Bluefin Tuna can grow up to 10 feet and 1,000 pounds. Bluefin Tuna eat small fish, crab, and squid.

Islanders make good use of palm branches to surround a school of skipjack tuna, Puluwat Lagoon, Chuuk [August 2006]

                                                                     Frozen Bluefin Tuna in Japanese Fish Market 

                                                                      Tuna Sushi, Tuna Sashimi, and California Role


Now, why is it important to know different tuna species? You will find later that the price of each tuna fish will play an important role on the fish market. On the next few sections, let's learn more about how this actually happens and why it matters.

References

1.Kennedy, Jennifer.  “Tuna Species” Marine Life <http://marinelife.about.com/od/fish/tp/tunaspecies.htm>

2.Tuna Species. 2012. National fisheries Institute. <www.healthytuna.com/about-tuna/tuna-species>

*Photos used above were taken from the following websites

1) www.rolandweidel.com : Islanders make good use of palm branches to surround a school of skipjack tuna.

2) www.planet-energy.org : Frozen Bluefin Tuna in Japanese fish market. 

3) www.famoussushi.net : Tuna Sushi, Tuna Sashimi, and California role

4) www.igfa.org : drawings of tuna species above were taken from this website.