Latin Name: Thunnus alalunga
Weight: 3–10kg, up to 55kg
Length: 50–70cm
Family: Albacore tuna belong to the Scombridae family (mackerels, tunas).
- Wild Caught
- Farmed
Location
Albacore tuna are widespread in the warmer tropical waters north of New Zealand, where they arrive in the summer. Some deep-swimming adults may be found as far as 45 degrees south. Smaller, surface-schooling juveniles appear in the summer from the Bay of Plenty to Cook Strait and down the west coast of the South Island.
Sustainability
This species is a well-managed and sustainable fishery in accordance with the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Fishing. The MSC scheme follows international benchmarks to promote robust processes and uphold the values of independence, transparency, impartiality, and stakeholder consultation.
To achieve MSC certification, a fishery must pass 28 performance indicators within three core principles: sustainable stocks, minimising environmental impact, and effective management.
This 9-minute MSC film tells the story of a sustainable West Coast New Zealand fishery. The film showcases the fish as part of an ocean food web, the fishers who catch albacore tuna using barbless hooks and handlines with minimal bycatch, and the role of scientists, improvements, and fishing controls in the sustainable fishing story.
Fishing Methods
Fishing Methods
Hook & Handline
Troll
Fishing Season
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JAN
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FEB
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MAR
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APR
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MAY
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JUN
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JUL
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AUG
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SEP
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OCT
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NOV
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DEC
Nutrition
Source: Biotin (vitamin B7), Iodine, Magnesium, Potassium
Good Source: Niacin (vitamin B3), vitamin B12, vitamin D, Phosphorus, Selenium, Omega-3 fatty acids
Seafood is a highly nutritious food and is a great source of protein. Many species are low in saturated fat and a number of them are a good source of Omega 3.
Did you know?
Albacore tuna flesh is pinkish in colour and its meat is sometimes called ‘the chicken of the sea’.
Most albacore tuna caught in New Zealand waters is frozen and sent for canning in factories around the Pacific, for example in Thailand and American Samoa.
Cooking Tips
Albacore tuna meat is oily. It is suitable for
- baking
- barbequing
- marinating
- smoking
- frying
- raw/sashimi
