Scientific Name
Thunnus atlanticus

Common Name
Blackfin tuna

Biology
Found in oceanic waters, sometimes not far from the coast (Ref. 13628). Forms large mixed schools with the skipjack tuna. Its spawning grounds are located well offshore. Preys on surface and deep-sea fishes, squids, amphipods, shrimps, crabs and stomatopods and decapod larvae. The largest fishery for blackfin tuna operates off the southeastern coast of Cuba and uses live-bait and pole. Utilized fresh, dried or salted, canned and frozen (Ref. 9987).

Classification

Classified By

Lesson, 1831

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Mackerels, tunas, bonitos (Scombridae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: off Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts south to Trinidad Island and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Ref. 168); including south of Brazil (Ref. 36453). Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea (Ref. 26139).

Range

43°N - 28°S, 100°W - 26°W

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

20 °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

50 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

pelagic-oceanic

Environment

Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 50 - ? m

Trophic Level

4.13 s.e. 0.70 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

108 cm

Common Length

72.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5039 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (41 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.22; tm=3; tmax=5)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)