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Albacore tuna

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General

Mackerel-like fish

Mackerel-like (Scrombodei) from a subspecies of the Perciformes, the biggest order of fish. Mackerel (Atlantic-, horse mackerel etc), tuna, swordfish and barracudas all fall among the mackerel-like fish. Globally it is a very popular fish and forms an important source of food and income for many people. Mackerel are pelagic fish that live in large schools. While swimming in large schools, mackerel-like fish confuse their predators with the silver-like brilliance from their scales. Island mackerel is the smallest with 2o cm, the largest is the bluefin tuna that can reach a size of over 5 meters.

Albacore tuna

Albacore, or white tuna, can be found in all (sub)tropical and temperate areas. This tuna can reach a maximum length of 1.40 m and has a relatively short lifespan of 9 years. Albacore tuna regularly swims in schools with skipjack, yellowfin, and bluefin tuna.

Albacore tuna

Thunnus alalunga
Origin

Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean (FAO 21; 27; 31; 34; 41; 47; 61; 67; 71; 77; 81)

Farming- / Catch method

Pelagic longlines, Handlines and pole-lines

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Albacore tuna

Thunnus alalunga
Origin

Atlantic Ocean, northern and central (FAO 21; 27; 31; 34)

Farming- / Catch method

Pelagic trawls, Handlines and pole-lines

  • Jan
  • Feb
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  • May
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  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

The stockStock:
The fish of a particular species reproducing in the same area in the same period. 
of albacore tuna in these fishing areas is not being overfishedOverfished:
A stock is overfished when the stock size has decreased so far that it can no longer produce a maximum sustainable yield. The size of the fish populations is insufficient to reproduce in the long term. 
. The biomassBiomass:
Biomass is the mass (weight) of living organisms in an area or ecosystem at the time.
of this stock is currently above sustainableSustainable:
Meeting the needs of current generations without compromising opportunities for future generations. This also allows future generations to benefit from the same needs.
levels.

Tuna fisheries using handlinesHandlines and pole-lines:
A collective name for pole lines, jigs and troll lines. Hand lines and pole lines are used on a small scale most of the time and are relatively selective. unwanted by-catch have a high survival rate because they can be thrown back immediately.  
and pole-lines and pelagicPelagic trawls:
In pelagic trawling, a trawl is pulled through the water column. The net is not towed across the seabed.
trawls have very little impact on the ecosystem. These fishing methods come into little contact with the seabed.

ManagementManagement:
The regulations surrounding fisheries and aquaculture that ensure that production is carried out within legal frameworks and that sustainability can be assured.
of albacore tuna in the Atlantic is overseen by ICCATICCAT:
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, an international fisheries organization responsible for the conservation of tuna and tuna species in the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas.
. A lack of robust information and observations at sea pose major problems for the management of this fishery. In addition, current management measuresManagement measures:
For fisheries, management measures can affect the amount of fish that can be caught, the type of gear that can be used and where fishing is and is not allowed.
are still insufficient to minimise bycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards). 
and prevent illegalIllegal fishing:
Fisheries that do not comply with the established agreements, such as not giving up catches to national authorities, operating without permission or in prohibited/closed zones. Illegal fishing is covered by IUU fishing (Illegal Unreported Unregulated).  
fishing. Management of this species is not effective.

Albacore tuna

Thunnus alalunga
Origin

Indian Ocean (FAO 51; 57)

Farming- / Catch method

Handlines and pole-lines

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

The albacore tuna stockStock:
The fish of a particular species reproducing in the same area in the same period. 
is currently not being overfishedOverfished:
A stock is overfished when the stock size has decreased so far that it can no longer produce a maximum sustainable yield. The size of the fish populations is insufficient to reproduce in the long term. 
and fishing pressureFishing pressure:
Fishing pressure is a result of the fishing effort/amount of fishing on a stock, which determines the fishing mortality. Fishing mortality is the share of the fish stock that dies annually as a result of fishing.
in these fishing areas is at sustainableSustainable:
Meeting the needs of current generations without compromising opportunities for future generations. This also allows future generations to benefit from the same needs.
levels. Due to a lack of biological information on albacore tuna in this area, it cannot be said with certainty whether the current fishing pressure is sustainable in the long term.

HandlinesHandlines and pole-lines:
A collective name for pole lines, jigs and troll lines. Hand lines and pole lines are used on a small scale most of the time and are relatively selective. unwanted by-catch have a high survival rate because they can be thrown back immediately.  
and pole-lines are unlikely to have significant effects on the ecosystem and other species. This fishing method also does not come into contact with the seabed.

Tuna fisheries in the Indian Ocean are managed by the IOTCIOTC:
Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, an international organization dedicated to the management of tuna and tuna species in the Indian Ocean and adjacent seas.
. To date, no management measuresManagement measures:
For fisheries, management measures can affect the amount of fish that can be caught, the type of gear that can be used and where fishing is and is not allowed.
are taken to limit catches. In addition, a lack of robust information and observations at sea pose major problems for the managementManagement:
The regulations surrounding fisheries and aquaculture that ensure that production is carried out within legal frameworks and that sustainability can be assured.
of this fishery. Management of this species is not effective.

Albacore tuna

Thunnus alalunga
Origin

Atlantic Ocean, northern and central (FAO 21; 27; 31; 34)

Farming- / Catch method

Purse seines, Pelagic longlines

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

The stockStock:
The fish of a particular species reproducing in the same area in the same period. 
of albacore tuna in these fishing areas is not being overfishedOverfished:
A stock is overfished when the stock size has decreased so far that it can no longer produce a maximum sustainable yield. The size of the fish populations is insufficient to reproduce in the long term. 
. The biomassBiomass:
Biomass is the mass (weight) of living organisms in an area or ecosystem at the time.
of this stock is currently above sustainableSustainable:
Meeting the needs of current generations without compromising opportunities for future generations. This also allows future generations to benefit from the same needs.
levels.

The tuna fishery with pelagic longlinesLonglines (drifting):
A fishing method whereby a long main line (40-100 km long) with transverse lines with hooks with bait is expanded. The line floats on buoys in the water column. 
most likely has a major impact on the ecosystem through bycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards). 
of endangered and protected species. Although this is less of a problem for the pursePurse seines:
A ring net in which the net is circulated around a school of fish. Then the net is closed and taken in. This is also called 'purse seine'. 
seine fishery, there are still high bycatch rates of juvenile tuna in this fishery.

ManagementManagement:
The regulations surrounding fisheries and aquaculture that ensure that production is carried out within legal frameworks and that sustainability can be assured.
of albacore tuna in the Atlantic is overseen by ICCATICCAT:
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, an international fisheries organization responsible for the conservation of tuna and tuna species in the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas.
. A lack of robust information and observations at sea pose major problems for the management of this fishery. In addition, current management measuresManagement measures:
For fisheries, management measures can affect the amount of fish that can be caught, the type of gear that can be used and where fishing is and is not allowed.
are still insufficient to minimise bycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards). 
and prevent illegalIllegal fishing:
Fisheries that do not comply with the established agreements, such as not giving up catches to national authorities, operating without permission or in prohibited/closed zones. Illegal fishing is covered by IUU fishing (Illegal Unreported Unregulated).  
fishing. Management of this species is not effective.

 

Albacore tuna

Thunnus alalunga
Origin

Indian Ocean (FAO 51; 57)

Farming- / Catch method

Pelagic longlines

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

The albacore tuna stockStock:
The fish of a particular species reproducing in the same area in the same period. 
is currently not being overfishedOverfished:
A stock is overfished when the stock size has decreased so far that it can no longer produce a maximum sustainable yield. The size of the fish populations is insufficient to reproduce in the long term. 
and fishing pressureFishing pressure:
Fishing pressure is a result of the fishing effort/amount of fishing on a stock, which determines the fishing mortality. Fishing mortality is the share of the fish stock that dies annually as a result of fishing.
in these fishing areas is at sustainableSustainable:
Meeting the needs of current generations without compromising opportunities for future generations. This also allows future generations to benefit from the same needs.
levels. Due to a lack of biological information on albacore tuna in this area, it cannot be said with certainty whether the current fishing pressure is sustainable in the long term.

The tuna fishery with pelagic longlinesLonglines (drifting):
A fishing method whereby a long main line (40-100 km long) with transverse lines with hooks with bait is expanded. The line floats on buoys in the water column. 
most likely has a major impact on the ecosystem through bycatch of endangered and protected species.

Tuna fisheries in the Indian Ocean are managed by the IOTCIOTC:
Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, an international organization dedicated to the management of tuna and tuna species in the Indian Ocean and adjacent seas.
. To date, no management measuresManagement measures:
For fisheries, management measures can affect the amount of fish that can be caught, the type of gear that can be used and where fishing is and is not allowed.
are taken to limit catches. In addition, a lack of robust information and observations at sea pose major problems for the managementManagement:
The regulations surrounding fisheries and aquaculture that ensure that production is carried out within legal frameworks and that sustainability can be assured.
of this fishery. Management of this species is not effective.

ASC label

Fish with the ASC label is farmed in a sustainable manner.

MSC label

Fish with the MSC label is caught sustainably.

Good fish

This fish is not being overfished or is being responsibly farmed, with minimal impact on the environment.

Second choice

This fish is a second choice. There are still some improvements to be made in this fishery or fish farm.

Avoid

Do not buy this fish. It's being overfished or the way it's farmed or caught has a negative impact on the environment.

Welfare

There is fish available of this species that is farmed or caught using high welfare standards.

GlobalG.A.P.

GlobalG.A.P. certified farms are doing a step in the right direction in terms of sustainability. A few species with this label are getting a better score on the VISwijzer.

Organic

Organic standards are the strictest when it comes to fish feed. They also require certain measures for animal well-being.