You can sponsor this page

Thunnus alalunga (Bonnaterre, 1788)

Albacore
Add your observation in Fish Watcher
Native range | All suitable habitat | Point map | Year 2050
This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.
Thunnus alalunga   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
Upload your photos and videos
 Pictures | Videos | Stamps, Coins Misc. | Google image
Image of Thunnus alalunga (Albacore)
Thunnus alalunga
Picture by Archambault, C.

Australia country information

Common names: Albacore tuna, Albacore, Longfin tuna
Occurrence: native
Salinity: marine
Abundance: common (usually seen) | Ref: Kailola, P.J., M.J. Williams, P.C. Stewart, R.E. Reichelt, A. McNee and C. Grieve, 1993
Importance: commercial | Ref: Kailola, P.J., M.J. Williams, P.C. Stewart, R.E. Reichelt, A. McNee and C. Grieve, 1993
Aquaculture: never/rarely | Ref: Kailola, P.J., M.J. Williams, P.C. Stewart, R.E. Reichelt, A. McNee and C. Grieve, 1993
Regulations: restricted | Ref: Kailola, P.J., M.J. Williams, P.C. Stewart, R.E. Reichelt, A. McNee and C. Grieve, 1993
Uses: no uses
Comments: Present in the east, south and west from east of Torres Strait to the North West Shelf (Ref. 30271). Stock structure: In the Pacific Ocean, albacore are considered to comprise separate northern and southern hemisphere stocks, each with distinct spawning areas. As of 1993, there was no firm evidence that these stocks mixed across the equator (Ref. 30271, 30282). Scientists then regarded South Pacific albacore as a functional, or discreet, unit stock (Ref. 30279, 30282). Albacore off the west coast and north-west coast of Australia are part of the Indian Ocean stock, while albacore off the east coast are part of the south Pacific Ocean stock. It is possible that albacore along the east coast move around southern Tasmania and mix with the albacore stock of the Indian Ocean (Ref. 30285) although the interchange is probably minimal. Commercial fishery: Albacore are a premium canning species. They are esteemed for their white, dry flesh and are often referred to as ‘chicken of the sea’. In the south Pacific Ocean, albacore are caught mainly by longline vessels from Taiwan, Korea and Japan, and trolling vessels from the United States of America and New Zealand. The longline vessels operate from off the Australian mainland east to about 100°W. Combined catches by all fleets over the 10 years to 1988 averaged 32,700 t per year (Ref. 30279). While a major Japanese and Taiwanese driftnet fishery for albacore operated in the southern Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand during the mid and late 1980s, there is now no commercial fishery that targets albacore in the Australian Fishing Zone. The largest catches of albacore in the Zone are usually taken as a bycatch by Japanese fishing vessels longlining for southern bluefin, yellowfin and bigeye tunas (Ref. 30289). Japanese longlining mainly takes place off the east and south-east coast with lesser activity off the west coast. Hooks are set between 50 m and 150 m below the sea surface, with up to about 3300 hooks per line. The lines are 80-100 km long. The Japanese freeze their albacore catch whole and take it back to Japan for canning. From 1984 to 1988 an annual average of 1300 t of albacore was caught by Japanese longliners working in Australian waters (Ref. 30287). Domestic vessels using drifting longlines have successfully fished for various species of tuna off eastern Australia since the early 1950s, the fishing activity escalating after 1984 (Ref. 30287). The target species are the more valuable yellowfin tuna (T. albacares) and bigeye tuna (T. obesus), with albacore (T. alalunga) as bycatch (Ref. 30289). Logbooks record that the domestic tuna longline fleet catches about 100 t of albacore annually (Ref. 30287), although the catch is probably higher. The Australian longlines are shorter than the Japanese longlines: up to 30 km long and set with 200-800 hooks. Albacore from domestic longliners are sold through the Sydney and Melbourne fish markets, to wholesale buyers in Melbourne, or to local canneries. Albacore were previously a minor bycatch of pole-and-line and purse seining operations for southern bluefin tuna off New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia. In 1 year (1981-82) the catch was around 2000 t (Ref. 30285). More recently, small quantities of albacore have been taken by pole-and-line vessels targeting skipjack tuna off the New South Wales south coast. The catch of albacore from pole-and-line is sold mainly to the cannery at Eden. Small quantities of albacore are also caught off the east coast by domestic trolling, although these operations are more opportunistic. Domestic longliners, after setting their gear, may troll up to 15 lines with single lures spaced 5-50 m behind the boat. Trolling is also carried out off Tasmania’s east coast to target southern bluefin tuna with albacore a significant bycatch in those waters. The trolled albacore catch - along with any bycatch from longlining - is sold locally either as fresh fish or as processed, smoked fillets. The albacore catch in domestic fisheries off the southern and western coast is incidental and trivial. Recreational fishery: The recreational fishery for albacore is small but growing steadily as amateur fishers venture further off the coast in search of fish. Anglers use rod-and-reel to take albacore by trolling artificial lures and live or dead baits, or drifting using live or fish pieces with the assistance of a berley trail. Albacore are mainly caught off New South Wales from September to December and again in April and May, while off Tasmania they are caught from January to April. Mainly juveniles (40-90 cm FL) are taken. The record size for an albacore caught by an angler in Australia as of 1993, was 23.2 kg (records of the Game Fishing Association of Australia). Angler clubs reported a catch of 642 albacore off eastern Australia in 1988-89 (Ref. 30284). There has been a noticeable increase in the numbers of albacore tagged and released by game fishers on Australia’s east coast. Figures provided by the NSW Fisheries Research Institute’s database show that from 1986 to the end of 1990-91, 2450 albacore were tagged and released. Up to July 1992, a total of 21 tagged fish had been recovered from a total of 3646 releases since 1973. Resource status: Albacore stocks are considered to be under-utilised in Australian waters and there is potential for development of a fishery (Ref. 30285). A review of the status of the broader south Pacific Ocean stock (Ref. 30278) by the South Pacific Albacore Research working group, an informal group of albacore scientists from the South Pacific and distant water fishing nations, suggests that the withdrawal of the driftnet fleet from the Tasman Sea and broader south-west Pacific has considerably lessened earlier concern about the potential impact of that fleet on the south Pacific Ocean stock of albacore. Nevertheless, the south Pacific albacore troll fishery has the capacity to reduce yields in the south Pacific longline fishery. Also Ref. 2334.
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/as.html
National Fisheries Authority: http://www.csiro.au/
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Kailola, P.J., M.J. Williams, P.C. Stewart, R.E. Reichelt, A. McNee and C. Grieve, 1993
National Database:

Common names from other countries

Germon, Atún blanco, Тунец длинноперый, ... more

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Teleostei (teleosts) > Scombriformes (Mackerels) > Scombridae (Mackerels, tunas, bonitos) > Scombrinae
Etymology: Thunnus: Greek, thynnos = tunna (Ref. 45335).
  More on author: Bonnaterre.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 600 m (Ref. 168).   Subtropical; 10°C - 25°C (Ref. 168); 60°N - 50°S, 180°W - 180°E

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Cosmopolitan in tropical and temperate waters of all oceans including the Mediterranean Sea but not at the surface between 10°N and 10°S. Western Pacific: range extend in a broad band between 40°N and 40°S (Ref. 9684). Often confused with juvenile Thunnus obesus which also have very long pectorals but with rounded tips. Highly migratory species.

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm 85.2, range 83 - ? cm
Max length : 140 cm FL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3669); common length : 100.0 cm FL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9684); max. published weight: 60.3 kg (Ref. 40637); max. reported age: 9 years (Ref. 72462)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 11 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-16; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11 - 16. Anterior spines much higher than posterior spines giving the fin a strongly concave outline. Interpelvic process small and bifid. Body with very small scales. Pectoral fins remarkably long, about 30% of fork length or longer in 50 cm or longer fish. Ventral surface of liver striated and the central lobe is largest.

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

An epipelagic and mesopelagic, oceanic species, abundant in surface waters of 15.6° to 19.4°C; deeper swimming, large albacore are found in waters of 13.5° to 25.2°C; temperatures as low as 9.5°C may be tolerated for short periods (Ref. 168). Known to concentrate along thermal discontinuities (Ref. 168). Form mixed schools with skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and bluefin tuna (T. maccoyii), schools may be associated with floating objects, including sargassum weeds (Ref. 168). Feed on fishes, crustaceans and squids. Eggs and larvae are pelagic (Ref. 6769). Sexual maturity reached at 90 cm (Ref. 36731). Highly appreciated and marketed fresh, smoked, deep frozen or canned. Eaten steamed, broiled, fried and microwaved (Ref. 9987). Also Ref. 1762, 1798, 1804. Angling: Largely caught offshore, where the waters are mild and blue. Albacore favor those areas where cooler water interfaces with warmer water. They are caught with live of dead baitfish such as mullet, sauries, squid, herring, anchovies, sardines, and other small fish. Albacore strike hard and make powerful runs (Ref. 84357).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

The sex ratio in catches is about 1:1 for immature individuals, but males predominate among mature fishes, which is possibly due to both differential mortality of sexes and differential growth rate after maturity.

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Collette, Bruce B. | Collaborators

Collette, B.B. and C.E. Nauen, 1983. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related species known to date. Rome: FAO. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(2):137 p. (Ref. 168)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

  Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 15 January 2021

CITES (Ref. 128078)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Harmless




Human uses

Fisheries: highly commercial; gamefish: yes
FAO(Fisheries: production, species profile; publication : search) | FIRMS (Stock assessments) | FishSource | Sea Around Us

Tools

E-book | Field guide | Identification keys | Length-frequency wizard | Life-history tool | Point map | Classification Tree | Catch-MSY |

Special reports

Check for Aquarium maintenance | Check for Species Fact Sheets | Check for Aquaculture Fact Sheets

Download XML

Summary page | Point data | Common names | Photos

Internet sources

Aquatic Commons | BHL | Cloffa | BOLDSystems | Websites from users | Check FishWatcher | CISTI | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | DiscoverLife | ECOTOX | Faunafri | Fishtrace | GenBank(genome, nucleotide) | GloBI | GOBASE | | Google Books | Google Scholar | Google | IGFA World Record | MitoFish | National databases | Otolith Atlas of Taiwan Fishes | PubMed | Reef Life Survey | RFE Identification | Scirus | SeaLifeBase | Tree of Life | Wikipedia(Go, Search) | World Records Freshwater Fishing | Zoological Record

Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 115969): 8.8 - 21.2, mean 15.1 (based on 784 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804):  PD50 = 0.5039   [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01738 (0.01428 - 0.02115), b=3.01 (2.97 - 3.05), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref. 93245).
Trophic level (Ref. 69278):  4.3   ±0.2 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref. 120179):  Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.13-0.18; tm=4-6; tmax=10; Fec=2 million).
Prior r = 0.52, 95% CL = 0.34 - 0.78, Based on 7 stock assessments.
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153):  High to very high vulnerability (71 of 100).
Climate Vulnerability (Ref. 125649):  Moderate vulnerability (42 of 100).
Price category (Ref. 80766):   High.