Blackfin tuna (Thunnus atlanticus)

Scientific name: Thunnus atlanticus Lesson, 1831

Blackfin tuna (Thunnus atlanticus)

The Blackfin tuna (Thunnus atlanticus) is a marine fish of the family Scombridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 20°C (68°F).

Blackfin tuna care at a glance

Temperature
20°C (68°F)

Biology

Found in oceanic waters, sometimes not far from the coast. Forms large mixed schools with the skipjack tuna. Its spawning grounds are located well offshore. Preys on surface and deep-sea fishes, squids, amphipods, shrimps, crabs and stomatopods and decapod larvae. The largest fishery for blackfin tuna operates off the southeastern coast of Cuba and uses live-bait and pole. Utilized fresh, dried or salted, canned and frozen.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Thunnus atlanticus
Family
Scombridae (Mackerels, tunas, bonitos)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
108
Common length
72.0
Depth range
50 m (164 ft)
Environment
Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous; depth range 50 - ? m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Western Atlantic: off Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts south to Trinidad Island and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; including south of Brazil. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.22; tm=3; tmax=5)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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