Discover the world as relevant to the life of a bluefin tuna.
The global population of bluefin tuna can be divided into three main species based on their living sites – namely, the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern bluefin tuna stocks. While the Atlantic bluefin tuna stock arguably faces the most overfishing relative to its population size, all three major species are at-risk of extinction due to human-related activities (Nikolic, 2021).
Note: This map highlights the geographic sites most relevant to these species as a collective. If you want to learn more about the differences between each species, please visit the Comparing Bluefin Tuna exhibit.
Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Migration Sites
Western stock of bluefin tuna spawn in three main locations in the Gulf of Mexico – off the coast of Heroica Veracruz, in the Galveston Fishing Charters, and south of Panama City Beach (Nikolic, 2021). As tuna are highly migratory species, they often feed and travel as the water temperature increases, then return to these sites during the months of April to June. One common site for juvenile feeding is the South American Coast which features warm waters and great biodiversity of prey (Nikolic, 2021).
Amidst concerns of tuna population decline, scientists have discovered a new site for tuna breeding in the Slope Sea near the New England border (Richardson et al., 2016). Given the greater diversity of migration strategies among bluefin tuna stock, This presents hope for added resilience in the face of the changing climate.
Eastern Bluefin Tuna Migration Sites
In contrast with their western counterparts, eastern bluefin tuna are more active later in the year from May to July. They commonly spawn in the Mediterranean sea – east of Spain and south of Malta – and migrate to the South African Coast and waters of Western Europe during maturation (Nikolic, 2021). Despite sharing several feeding sites with the western population of Atlantic bluefin tuna, population mixing is uncommon due to inherited spawning habits.
Pacific Bluefin Tuna Migration Sites
The pacific bluefin tuna stock has a fairly long spawning season from April to August where they lay millions of eggs across eastern Asia, including the Japanese and North Philippine seas (Nikolic, 2021). After spawning, these fish migrate to either the Coral Sea (east of Australia) or North American waters (along the Golden Coast).
Southern Bluefin Tuna Migration Sites
Southern bluefin tuna primarily spawn southeast of Java. Though they are the least populous stock of bluefin tuna, they have the longest spawning cycles and can be found anywhere between the territories of South America and New Zealand (Nikolic, 2021).
Sites of Regulation and Legal Action
Located in Washington, D.C., the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is responsible for the management and conservation of local marine resources like the bluefin tuna. Some work of the organization includes the banning of strong hooks and surface longlines which have the potential to destroy bluefin tuna stock during spawning cycles (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, n.d.).
The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is an international fishing agency that is dedicated to the sustainable management of tuna populations. At a large scale, the ICCAT provides recommendations to fisheries and bluefin tuna conservationists based on research and scientific evidence such that the maximum sustainable catch can be reliably determined (International Waters Governance, n.d.).
Founded in 1996, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) is composed of 32 member states which review the impacts of bluefin tuna stock conservation efforts and delegate appropriate research investigations among countries that fish in the Indian Ocean (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, n.d.).
Headquartered in Canberra, Australia, the Convention for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) is the primary fishing management group of the Southern Hemisphere. Similar to other commissions, the CCSBT oversees the management of bluefin tuna resources based on their optimal use and population maintenance (Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna, n.d.).
Cultural Sites
Since its first inauguration in 2000, Pingtung’s Bluefin Tuna Cultural Festival has grown to become one of Taiwan’s premiere tourist attractions. Hosted during the peak of bluefin spawning in the Spring, the festival features theatrical performances, food stalls, and speaker showcases that highlight the unique impact of bluefin tuna fishing on local cuisine and culture (Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area, 2021).
Kindai University aims to create a sustainable supply of Bluefin tuna by artificially raising tuna in a reproductive cycle (Springer, 2016). In 2002, the university successfully grew an entire generation of the fish using only sustainable feed. Hoping to supply half of the tuna consumption in Japan, Kindai university funds its research through two educational restaurants where consumers can learn and enjoy the results of their aquaculture.
Toyosu Market is Japan’s premiere wholesale seafood market where bluefin tuna and other fish native to the Pacific Ocean are auctioned every morning for consumers and tourists to watch. In 2019, one sushi shop owner bought a 612-pound tuna for $3 million at this location as a celebratory purchase (Business Insider, 2021).
Map and post by Nico Carpo.
References
Business Insider. (2021, April 25). How A 600 Pound Tunafish Sells For $3 Million At The
Largest Fish Market In The World | Big Business [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBkZkoNCgxI
Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna. (n.d.). The Commission’s Role. https://www.ccsbt.org/en/content/commissions-role
Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area. (2021, March 29). Blue Fin Tuna Cultural Festival. https://www.dbnsa.gov.tw/Festival-Content.aspx?Lang=2&SNo=03001989
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (n.d.). The Commission. https://www.iotc.org/about-iotc
International Waters Governance. (n.d.). International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). http://www.internationalwatersgovernance.com/international-commission-for-the-conservation-of-atlantic-tunas-iccat.html
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries. (n.d.). Pacific Bluefin Tuna. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/pacific-bluefin-tuna
Nikolic, S. (2021, May 12). Bluefin Tuna Migration Explained. Fishing Booker. https://fishingbooker.com/blog/bluefin-tuna-migration-explained/
Richardson, D. E., Marancik, K. E., Guyon, J. R., Lutcavage, M. E., Galuardi, B., Lam, C. H., Walsh, H. J., Wildes, S., Yates, D. A., & Hare, J. A. (2016). Discovery of a spawning ground reveals diverse migration strategies in Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(12), 3299-3304. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1525636113
Springer, K. (2016, November 30). Can this university save bluefin tuna from extinction?. CNN Business. https://money.cnn.com/2016/11/30/technology/kindai-bluefin-tuna-farming/index.html
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