Albacore Tuna: Quick Facts
Latin name: Thunnus alalunga
Other names: White tuna (canned); albacore, longfinned albacore, thon blanc (France), tunny (UK), binnaga, bincho, tombo (Japan).
Ranking: D (Green - Concerns)
Best Fish Guide: Albacore Tuna
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Ranking D (Green - Concerns)
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Alternative choice: Best choice, no alternative
Description: This top predator is a highly migratory species of tuna that is mainly caught by troll (80%) and longline fisheries (20%) of the catch) off the west coast of New Zealand’s North and South Islands. The albacore catch steadily increased following the start of commercial fishing in the 1960s and fluctuated (between 2000 and 6600 tonnes) in the last ten years (Lewis and Williams, 2001, p29). The albacore troll fishery has received environmental certification under an international body - the Marine Stewardship Council. The New Zealand catch represents about 3 percent of the South Pacific catch.
Ecological concerns: The bycatch of sharks, seabirds and fur seals, declining stock trends and the absence of national and South Pacific catch limits, and a management plan. Removal of this large predatory species from the ocean’s food web has wide ecological implications. The Troll fishery catches immature fish.
Economic value: The main market is for canned albacore, with the canning process done outside New Zealand. Canned albacore tuna is sold as “white tuna”, mainly in the USA. The export value was $10.5 million in 2008. The export value of all tuna species combined was $38 million in 2010.
Best option: Albacore is the most ecologically sustainable tuna species in the Best Fish Guide. Troll caught tuna (e.g. West Coast of the South Island) which has MSC certification.
Management and Management unit (score: C and D)
For a full ecological assessment, click here
