Tuna

Tuna

Rating

Standard Names

Skipjack Tuna, Bigeye Tuna, Albacore, Australian Bonito

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Tunas include members of two distinct groups, the Thunnini (Tunas) and Sardini (Bonitos). Albacore, Skipjack Tuna and Bigeye Tuna, as well as the Australian Bonito, are considered the 'lesser' Tunas, being cheaper than their cousins, Yellowfin and Bluefin Tuna. These Tunas have dark red to purple flesh, a result of the blood and oxygen flow needed to maintain the huge bursts of energy that Tunas expend travelling and hunting in their pelagic environments. Tunas are caught by a variety of methods including trolling, longlines and pole-and-line fisheries in most Australian waters. Of these lesser commercial species, Bigeye Tuna is the only one used in sashimi preparations and much of its catch is exported to Japan, of the species discussed here it commands the highest price. Albacore Tuna is sometimes referred to as 'the chicken of the sea', as its flesh becomes dry and off white when cooked. Skipjack Tuna is the main species found in canned Tuna products.

		Government Stock Assessment
		Overfishing	Biomass	AMCS Listing	Accreditations
Skipjack Tuna	Eastern Stock	Uncertain		–	–
	Western Stock	Not Subject to Overfishing	Not Overfished	Say No	–
Bonito Tuna	NSW Ocean Trap & Line Fishery	Fully Fished		Say No	–
Albacore Tuna	Eastern & Western Australia	South Pacific Ocean Sustainable		Think Twice	Walker Seafood Australia MSC Certified
	Imported	–		Say No	–
Bigeye Tuna	Commonwealth (Indian Ocean)	Sustainable		Say No	–
	Commonwealth (Pacific Ocean)	Overfished		Say No	–
	Imported	–		Say No	–
	What do these terms mean?