Bluefin Tuna in Trouble

Tuna are the Olympians of the sea—fast, efficient swimmers able to reach speeds of 50 miles an hour and cross ocean basins. These magnificent animals are also tasty and bluefin tuna belly is prized by sushi eaters around the world for its rich flavor and texture. Sadly, our appetite for this delicacy has led to high prices, overfishing and the near collapse of bluefin populations worldwide.

What You Can Do:

Avoid ordering bluefin tuna.
Try albacore tuna (shiro maguro) instead; it tastes similar and is a best choice when troll caught in the US or Canada.
Let your chef know that you prefer sustainable seafood.
Learn more about what's troubling our oceans.

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Seafood Watch Recommendations for Bluefin Tuna

SEAFOOD	RATING	MARKET NAMES	WHERE CAUGHT	HOW CAUGHT
Bluefin Tuna		Kuromaguro, Horse Mackerel, Atun de aleta azul	Worldwide	wild-caught

Scientific Reports About Our Ratings

Bluefin tuna are severely overfished in all oceans.

Consumer Note
Common Market Names: Kuromaguro, Atun de aleta azul, Thon rouge, Horse mackerel.

Health Alert

Environmental Defense Fund has issued a health advisory for bluefin tuna due to elevated levels of mercury.

Summary
Avoid bluefin tuna—they're severely overfished and fishing gear used to catch them entangle sea turtles, seabirds and sharks and endanger their populations.

Bluefin tuna provide the world’s most valuable sushi and the high demand for this fish has taken its toll. The Atlantic population has declined by nearly 90% since the 1970s. Bluefin are slow to mature and, unfortunately, many young fishes are caught before they have the chance to reproduce.

Fishermen use a variety of methods to catch bluefin tuna, including longlines and purse seines. Even when they’re “dolphin-safe,” purse seines catch tons of unwanted fishes and other animals, called bycatch. Longlines entangle and kill sea turtles and other marine

life.

Bluefin are caught in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and in the Mediterranean Sea. More than 31 nations, including the U.S. and Japan, are trying to manage these highly migratory species.

Celebrating 25 Years of Ocean Conservation