Image credit: IFREMER under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.
Yellowfin Tuna
Thunnus albacares
Built for life in the open ocean, yellowfin tuna have a streamlined body, metallic-blue back and bright yellow dorsal and anal fins. They are found throughout tropical and subtropical oceans and can grow to almost 2.4 metres in length.
Yellowfin tuna are constantly on the move. They often travel in schools, sometimes together with other tuna, searching the open water for fish, squid and crustaceans. Large schools can gather where food is plentiful.
Yellowfin are more likely to appear as a flash of speed in the blue than as a fish sitting on the reef. Look out into open water around reefs, pinnacles and other places where baitfish gather. Don’t chase them — enjoy the encounter as the school passes by.
Yellowfin tuna is currently classified as Least Concern globally by the IUCN. However, it is one of the world’s most commercially important tuna species and is heavily targeted by fisheries. A global status does not mean that every yellowfin population or fishery is in good condition
Did you know?
Yellowfin tuna can reach around 200 kg. Their name comes from the striking yellow colouring of their dorsal and anal fins, which becomes especially noticeable on larger fish.
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