Sustainibility and Population

Learn where bluefin tuna are caught, how Pacific and Atlantic bluefin distribution differs, why the Gulf of Mexico matters, & how traceability works.

Bluefin Tuna fishing season depends on the species, region, and current regulations. For Pacific Bluefin Tuna found in California waters, the practical answer is typically May through October. This is the season when Bluefin fish tend to migrate into the area, although legal access, catch limits, and local conditions should still be checked before any trip.

Unregulated and unreported fishing are 2 of the 3 pillars of IUU fishing, and include all activities that sidestep rules or avoid disclosure, thereby allowing fish to enter markets without reliable documentation. In Pacific Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus orientalis) fisheries, where individual fish can command high prices and move rapidly across borders, every monitoring and reporting gap attracts illicit operators.

Pacific Bluefin Tuna are apex predators that require considerable amounts of energy to fuel their continuous swimming and rapid growth. …

Pacific Bluefin Tuna, Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, and Southern Bluefin Tuna are among the most commercially valuable fish in the world, …

For decades, intensive fishing and high market demand pushed the bluefin tuna to the brink of collapse. Many populations of …