Thunnus thynnus Linnaeus, 1758, commonly known as Atlantic bluefin tuna, is one of eight species of tuna in the family Scombridae, class Actinopterygii. The species has distinct populations in the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, and is extinct in the Black Sea. Closely related to Thunnus maccoyii (from temperate and subtropical waters of the Southern Hemisphere) and Thunnus orientalis (from the Pacific Ocean), it is a top predator that is the subject of an important fishery, which is why it is endangered.
Bluefin tuna is on this list of overrated ingredients, and it is no exaggeration to say that it is at the top of the list. This once-neglected tuna species began to gain fame in the 1970s with the growth in consumption by the Japanese. Its fame was so great, driven by the globalization of sushi and sashimi, that the “bluefin” tuna species is seriously threatened with extinction.
The bluefin tuna (as we call it in Brazil) has a pointed snout, two dorsal fins, and a rounded belly, where the most valuable meat is found. This species of tuna can reach 5 meters in length and weigh up to 680 kg. The “bluefin” has a speed that makes it one of the fastest swimmers in the sea, reaching up to 55 km/h.
TUNA MAP – Source: Larrouse Gastronomique
Its commercial importance has led to severe overfishing. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) stated in October 2009 that the Atlantic bluefin tuna stock has declined dramatically over the past 40 years, by 72% in the Atlantic, and by 82% in the western Atlantic.
Most bluefin tuna are caught commercially by professional fishermen using longlines, seines, assorted hook and line gear, heavy rod and reels, and spearguns. Bluefin have been one of the most important large game species sought by sport fishermen since the 1930s, particularly in the United States, but also in Canada, Spain, France, and Italy.
Source: http://www.petitgastro.com.br/atum-azul-o-maior-e-mais-valorizado-atum-mundo/ | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_bluefin_tuna | https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunnus_thynnus