Kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis)

Scientific name: Euthynnus affinis Cantor, 1849

The Kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis) is a marine fish of the family Scombridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 18–29°C (64–84°F).

Kawakawa care at a glance

Temperature: 18–29°C (64–84°F)

Biology

Occurs in open waters but always remains close to the shoreline. The young may enter bays and harbors. Forms multi-species schools by size with other scombrid species comprising from 100 to over 5,000 individuals. A highly opportunistic predator feeding indiscriminately on small fishes, especially on clupeoids and atherinids; also on squids, crustaceans and zooplankton. Generally marketed canned and frozen; also utilized dried, salted, smoked and fresh.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Euthynnus affinis
Family: Scombridae (Mackerels, tunas, bonitos)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 100.0
Common length: 60.0
Depth range: 0–200 m (0–656 ft)
Environment: Marine; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 200 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific: in warm waters including oceanic islands and archipelagos. A few stray specimens have been collected in the Eastern Central Pacific. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Reports of ciguatera poisoning
Uses: Fisheries: highly commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.4-0.5; tm=3; Fec=210,000)

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026