Albacore

The albacore (Thunnus alalunga), known also as the longfin tuna, is a species of <a href="/facts/Tuna/7HtBI9EL">tuna</a> of the order <a href="/facts/Scombriformes/f5ewbf4c">Scombriformes</a>. It is found in <a href="/facts/Temperate/6WPypCzC">temperate</a> and <a href="/facts/Tropical/Iv1es8Ih">tropical</a> waters across the globe in the <a href="/facts/Epipelagic/pTrzLGG5">epipelagic</a> and <a href="/facts/Mesopelagic/C9y5cjVA">mesopelagic</a> zones. There are six distinct stocks known globally in the <a href="/facts/Atlantic_Ocean/EI4uChIb">Atlantic</a>, <a href="/facts/Pacific_Ocean/bdxgXRVM">Pacific</a>, and <a href="/facts/Indian_Ocean/Kv0crwKG">Indian</a> oceans, as well as the <a href="/facts/Mediterranean_Sea/Vr2pzVbM">Mediterranean Sea</a>. The albacore has an elongate, fusiform body with a conical snout, large eyes, and remarkably long <a href="/facts/Pectoral_fins/kS10PMPf">pectoral fins</a>. Its body is a deep blue <a href="/facts/Dorsally/IpJ1fq2f">dorsally</a> and shades of silvery white <a href="/facts/Ventral/IpJ1fq2f">ventrally</a>. Individuals can reach up to 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) in length.
Albacore are <a href="/facts/Pelagic/D6heJr5f">pelagic</a> predators that eat a wide variety of foods, including but not limited to <a href="/facts/Fish/fln4gH9V">fish</a>, <a href="/facts/Crustacean/PBobIVJP">crustaceans</a>, and <a href="/facts/Cephalopod/80GlMxHG">cephalopods</a>. They are unique among tuna in that their primary food source is cephalopods, with fish making up a much smaller portion of their diet. Reproduction usually occurs from November to February and is <a href="/facts/Oviparous/oSgSIVHY">oviparous</a>. An adult female can release over two million eggs in a single cycle. Fry (juvenile fish) generally stay near where they were spawned for about a year before moving on. Albacore form schools based on their stage in the life cycle, but also combine with other tuna like the <a href="/facts/Skipjack_tuna/tErf0j4r">skipjack tuna</a>, <a href="/facts/Yellowfin_tuna/eSVpmlG0">yellowfin tuna</a>, and <a href="/facts/Bluefin_tuna/P7bsmQDj">bluefin tuna</a>. Once grown, schools are highly migratory.
The albacore is a very economically important fish and is a target of <a href="/facts/Commercial_fishing/8XF3oLTc">commercial</a> and <a href="/facts/Recreational_fishing/TxSCu0X3">recreational</a> fisheries. It was originally the basis for the United States tuna-canning industry and is no less important today, making up significant percentages of the <a href="/facts/Gross_domestic_product/zQRgyFKc">gross domestic products</a> of various Pacific nations. It was listed as <a href="/facts/Near_Threatened/PCH5WN3L">Near Threatened</a> by the <a href="/facts/International_Union_for_Conservation_of_Nature/QwV8JXup">International Union for Conservation of Nature</a> (IUCN) because of the threat of overfishing but is now <a href="/facts/Least_Concern/8u7koV5r">Least Concern</a> again. Several stocks were in significant decline but are now recovering thanks to the enforcement of regional fishing quotas.

Albacore open-in-new

Albacore