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Tuna, Bluefin
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Scientific names:
Thunnus thynnus(Northern Bluefin), Thunnus oritentalis(Pacific
Bluefin), Thunnus maccoyii(Southern Bluefin)
Market Names:
Kuromaguro, Horse Mackerel, Atun de aleta
azul, Hon Maguro, Toro
Summary:
Since the mid 1970’s the
population of Bluefin tuna has declined almost 90% due to high
worldwide demand, especially demand stemming from the popularity
of the fish in sushi restaurants. Tuna forms for the basis for
many fisheries world wide because it is consumed in its different
forms in nearly every country.
Tuna are caught using purse seine gear, or net that is encircles
the fish then is closed like a purse and brought to the surface.
Bluefin tuna fetch a high price a market and this highly lucrative
fish often attracts illegal fisherman to the scene, which just
serves to worsen the problem.
Also, it is a common practice to make the “tuna season”
3-4 months longer than the fishing period (May-June): fish are
caught at sea and then kept in large cages offshore.
These unnatural concentrations of fish in a small area contaminate
our waters. Furthermore the tuna are fed with fish caught for
the purpose, adding further to the pressure of fishing.
The decline in Bluefin tuna population stems from its slow growth
rate and late reproductive maturity, current methods do not
allow the Bluefin stocks to recover. Some estimates find that
Bluefin tuna is being fished at 4 times the sustainable rate.
Blue Fin Tuna is also very valuable on the market and is a prized
catch of many illegal fishermen.
Bluefin tuna should be avoided, due to extreme over fishing
and fishing practices that endanger many other ocean species.
Their migratory habits have made it difficult to propagate and
enforces laws made to limit the catch of bluefin tuna.
Summary:
Biology:
Bluefin tuna is one of the biggest and fastest species of fish
living in the ocean today. They are high migratory and there
range can cover large swathes of ocean. Each species differs
a bit but they mature between 4-8 years old. They have very
specific spawning areas that are located around the world Gulf
of Mexico(Northern), Mediterranean Sea (Northern), off of Java
in Indonesia(Southern), and Northwest Pacific (Pacific).
Alternatives:
Canned tuna that is wild caught and uses either
(albacore, skipjack, or yellowfin varties)
Sources:
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org
http://www.fishbase.org
http://www.economist.com
http://www.fishonline.org |
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