Albacore Tuna – Thunnus alalunga. Common Names: Albacore, albacore tuna, albies, long fins, chickens, chicken of the sea, white meat tuna. albicore, albie, pigfish, tombo ahi, ahipalaha, Pacific albacore, longfin, germon, longfin tuna, longfin tunny, and bastard albacore.
Identifying Characteristics and Biology
- The most recognizable and distinguishable feature of the albacore is the extremely elongated pectoral fins.
- Albacores have a sleek and almost metallic looking skin. Colors range from dark black to blue on top, with sometimes a light tan or yellowish brown stripe below the dark colored top. The color fades into silvery metallic on sides and belly.
- Size: 3 1/2 feet and 70 pounds are upper end of common sizes.
Range and Habitat
- Albacore tuna are found all over the world. The Atlantic and Pacific albacores are believed to be a single species found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world.
- The albacore tuna are highly migratory fish, and can be found as far deep as 1,250 feet.
- While most of the fish stay many miles offshore, the do come inshore close to the Pacific coastline.
Market Forms
- Abacore tuna is famous for being canned as ‘white meat’ tuna. Albacore is the only tuna allowed to labeled and sold as white meat tuna.
- This fish is found fresh, frozen, and canned.
- These are highly sought fish for sport fishermen, and an important fish to the commercial fishing industry.
Closing Remarks:
Scombroid poisoning danger with the albacores.
Resources:
“Albacore.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Feb. 2014. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.
Love, Milton. Probably More Than You Want to Know About the Fishes of the Pacific Coast. Santa Barbara: Really Big Press, 1996. Print.
“Pacific Albacore Tuna.” FishWatch U.S. Seafood Facts. NOAA Fisheries, n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.
“Thunnus Alalunga.” Iucnredlist.org. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.