Tuna has various species and varieties, and the Yellowfin Tuna is one of them. This particular variety has a round body with dark blue color on the dorsals and yellow fins, which is why it’s called the Yellowfin. The fins are sturdy, and the size of this tuna is also big. Most people often confuse between the Yellowfin Tuna, Bluefin Tuna and also the BigEye Tuna. If you want to find out more things about the Yellowfins compared to other tuna varieties, you might want to check out the following facts about Yellowfin Tuna.
As a fish or sea enthusiast, having more knowledge and information about this large, torpedo-shaped fish is very beneficial. So without further ado, let’s keep reading and scrolling down for facts about Yellowfin tuna that might go beyond your imagination.
Table of Contents
- 1. A Yellowfin Tuna Can Produce Several Million Eggs
- 2. A Yellowfin Tuna’s Lifespan is About 7 Years
- 3. Yellowfin Tuna Can Dive Up To 3,000 Feet Under Water
- 4. This Species Can Swim Up To 50 Miles per Hour
- 5. Yellowfin Tuna Moves by Forming Large Schools with Other Fish
- 6. Male and Female Yellowfin Tuna Has the Same Name
- 7. High Mercury Inside Yellowfin Tuna
- 8. The Biggest Yellowfin Tuna is Wighted 193.6 Kg
- 9. Ahi is Another Name of Yellowfin Tuna in Hawaii
- 10. The Yellowfin Tuna is Indeed Dangerous to Swarm Fishes
- 11. People Often Mistakenly Name the Yellowfin and the Bluefin Tuna
- 12. Yellowfin Tuna Should Stay at Minimum 64 Degrees Fahrenheit
- 13. There is a Limitation on Catching Yellowfin Tuna
- 14. Yellowfin Tuna Hunt by Sight, So They Tend to Feed During Daylight
- 15. There are About 7 Million Tons of Tuna-like Species That Land Yearly
1. A Yellowfin Tuna Can Produce Several Million Eggs
As we know, fish can produce a huge amount of sperms and eggs at once, including the Yellowfin tuna. One of the most amazing facts about Yellowfin tuna is that they can produce up to 8 million eggs in one breed! This fact, of course, is more than what we might expect, because with 8 million eggs at a single breeding, you can imagine how the sea will be full of tuna, right? After they breed, There are eggs that will survive at a certain period of time. If they survive, they can become mature fishes in two or three years.
2. A Yellowfin Tuna’s Lifespan is About 7 Years
Since the life cycle of Yellowfin tuna is migrating through the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, then the lifespan for this fish is pretty short. Seven years is not that long, since the Yellowfin is also a fast-growing fish. Even though the lifespan reaches 7 years based on the data of WWF Global, you have to understand that although Yellowfin Tuna can breed year-round, only a few eggs can survive. Moreover, tuna is on top of the food chain under the sea.
3. Yellowfin Tuna Can Dive Up To 3,000 Feet Under Water
Generally, Tuna has an impressive ability when it comes to diving. This fish can go over 3,000 feet under water for hunting the food, and this is one fact about Yellowfin tuna according to the United Nations on World Tuna Day. When they appear to the surface, it is mostly because of the ecological factors, such as the temperature. Since they swim in large groups, they can have the ability to dive deep.
4. This Species Can Swim Up To 50 Miles per Hour
Imagine competing with the Yellowfin Tuna in terms of speed while riding your motorcycle, because you might not win because Yellowfin Tuna can swim up to 50 miles per hour or up to 70km/hours. Based on World Atlas, Yellowfin Tuna is the fourth fastest fish in the world. This is a cool fact about Yellowfin tuna, because impressively their speed can reach nearly 100 km/hour. The main reason why Yellowfin Tuna can swim so fast is because they are warm blooded varieties. It means they have to move fast with their mouths open in order to get oxygen properly.
5. Yellowfin Tuna Moves by Forming Large Schools with Other Fish
Well, it is not an actual school like the ones that humans have. Forming a large school for the fish means they move forward together, such as turning, twisting, forming sweeping, and glinting shapes in the water with the same species. In this case, Yellowfin Tuna form school together with skipjack, bigeye, and even dolphins and whales. The purpose of forming a school for the fish is to confuse the predators and save their energy if they face slipstream.
6. Male and Female Yellowfin Tuna Has the Same Name
Ever wonder what to call the female Yellowfin Tuna? You don’t need to think about it anymore since Yellowfin applies both for female and male species. Yes, Yellowfin Tuna don’t have different names based on their gender. You can distinguish the difference between male and female species by the length of their body. Generally, female Yellowfin Tuna has a length of 145 cm – 160 cm, while the male species are usually longer than that, which starts at 160 cm and above.
7. High Mercury Inside Yellowfin Tuna
Consuming tuna is good for your health because of its vitamin, protein, and high fats inside tuna. However, it’s better not to consume it everyday, especially the Yellowfin ones. Food and Drug Administrations, through Healthline, states that if you eat the fish regularly, and the mercury concentration is greater than 0.3 ppm inside the fish, it may increase blood levels of mercury and spur health issues. Moreover, most species of tuna become the reason for this case. Therefore, for pregnant women, breast-feeding moms and women who want to be pregnant, it’s better for them to avoid consuming the Yellowfin Tuna.
8. The Biggest Yellowfin Tuna is Wighted 193.6 Kg
Yellowfin Tuna is definitely as one of the big fishes out there. The length of their body can reach up to 160 cm for female and even longer for the male. The largest Yellowfin tuna ever caught has a weight of around 193.6 kg. It was caught by a guy named Guy Yaxom. According to the International Game Fishing Association on September 18 2012, Guy Yaxom successfully caught the biggest Yellowfin Tuna using a rod and reel. The fish was caught off Cabo San Lucas.
9. Ahi is Another Name of Yellowfin Tuna in Hawaii
In spite of its species name, which is Thunnus Albacares, in Hawaii, the Yellowfin Tuna is called Ahi. Ahi refers to two species, which are the Yellowfin Tuna or the Big Eye Tuna. In Hawaii, the smaller Yellowfin Tuna is called shibi. Hawaiian people are pretty familiar with this kind of fish since they come in abundance during the summer season. And usually, they make the tuna into sashimi, grilled, seared, boiled and many more.
10. The Yellowfin Tuna is Indeed Dangerous to Swarm Fishes
Due to its size and length, the Yellowfin Tuna is dangerous for other fishes. As we know that even they form the school not for the same species, they will share a group with other fish that has the same shape and size with them. However, the Yellowfin Tuna is a very competitive and active variety. Based on that particular fact about Yellowfin tuna, they don’t like to lose what they already prey on, especially as they are the fast hunters.
Based on the data from WWF, countries such as the US, Japan and Europe are the major markets for Yellowfin tuna. And around 430,000 tonnes in 2006 with around one quarter of this catch taken by Indonesia and Philippines. Also, due to overfishing, it is now limited to catching the fish.
11. People Often Mistakenly Name the Yellowfin and the Bluefin Tuna
People often mistakenly name the Bluefin Tuna for Yellowfin Tuna. Although both of them have a difference in yellow color, sometimes, the color itself may fade due to the fight under the sea. So, to avoid the mistake and easy to distinguish between Yellowfin and Bluefin Tuna, you can see Yellowfin Tuna has yellow and gray coloring for tailfin, while for Bluefin the color is dark blue. As for the Bluefin, the silver underside of its body has white dots and uneven lines.
12. Yellowfin Tuna Should Stay at Minimum 64 Degrees Fahrenheit
As mentioned before, the Yellowfin Tuna are warm blooded. Hence, water temperature determines the habitat for them. They live in waters close to the equator that are at least 64 degrees Fahrenheit based on Land Big Fish. Also, you can call them as an epipelagic, oceanic fish that lives above and below the thermocline. Although they seem picky about the temperature and area for swimming, Yellowfin Tuna always know where they need to go.
13. There is a Limitation on Catching Yellowfin Tuna
Due to saving the population, the government states there is a limitation on catching Yellowfin Tuna. For example in Australia, the Australia Fisheries Management Authority states the limit to catching Yellowfin Tuna is at 2,400 tonnes at the eastern and 5,000 tonnes at the southern. Aside from the amount limit, they also create a strict rule for the gear and the method on how the fishermen catch the fish. Also, they have to record the process of fishing, too. It was mandatory because it will help the authorities in creating the report.
14. Yellowfin Tuna Hunt by Sight, So They Tend to Feed During Daylight
The Yellowfin Tuna hunt for food by sight, so they prefer to look for food during daylight. It becomes the reason too that this kind of fish is very competitive because they do not want to starve at night. They do their best to prey fish when there is still sunlight, to help them see their favorite food in the sea.
15. There are About 7 Million Tons of Tuna-like Species That Land Yearly
Due to high demand, there is already a statement to limit the consumption of tuna. Every year, there are about 7 million tons of Tuna that land specially for humans. Mostly, the Tuna will be made into sashimi or steak. Especially in Asia and Hawaii, too many people cannot resist their desire not to consume this fish. Although they know tuna, particularly the Yellowfin Tuna, contains high mercury.
