Why are bluefin tuna overfished?

Asked by: Kimberley Oeun

The Atlantic bluefin is a highly sought-after delicacy for sushi and sashimi in Asia—a single fish has sold for over $1.75 million! Driven by such high prices, fishermen use even more refined techniques to catch tuna. And the fish are disappearing as a result.

When did bluefin tuna become overfished?

Population Status
NOAA Fisheries first determined the Pacific bluefin tuna stock to be overfished in 2013. The 2020 assessment completed by the International Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-Like Species in the North Pacific Ocean found the stock is still overfished.

Why are tuna so susceptible to overfishing?

The bluefin tuna has life history traits that make it more susceptible to overfishing: they reproduce at a later age, they reproduce when they are of larger size, and they aggregate when they are going to spawn (Longo et al 2012).

Which tuna is overfished?

Pacific bluefin tuna

Pacific bluefin tuna are heavily overfished, and the Atlantic bigeye and the Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna are experiencing overfishing with increased catch levels in recent years. The skipjack tuna, while quite resilient, could easily slip into a vulnerable state due to overfishing if improperly managed.

What happens if tuna is overfished?

Overfishing poses serious threats as loss of predators, like tuna, allows populations of prey species to expand. This then can lead to a destabilized food web and marine environment.

Will bluefin tuna become extinct?

Prized as a high-value dish at sushi restaurants, bluefin are being push toward extinction by decades of overfishing. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists two species of bluefin, the Atlantic and the southern, as endangered or critically endangered, on its “Red List” of imperiled species.

What eats a bluefin tuna?

Sharks, marine mammals (including killer whales and pilot whales), and large fish feed on bluefin tuna. Bluefish and seabirds also prey upon juvenile bluefin tuna.

How many bluefin tuna are left?

1.6 million

There are currently 1.6 million Pacific bluefin in the Pacific, and of those, 145,000 are reproducing adults.

Who are the main fishing fleets exploiting the bluefin tuna?

The main fishing fleets exploiting the stocks are from Japan, Mexico, South Korea and the US, and the high value of the few remaining fish is a further encouragement to fishermen to hunt down the last of the species.

How old is a 200 lb bluefin tuna?

Appearance. Atlantic bluefin tuna can reach 10 feet in length and 1,000 pounds. Most adults are around 200 pounds at 10 years of age. They are a deep blue on the dorsals with a silvery belly.

How long until tuna is extinct?

Stocks of yellowfin tuna in the Indian Ocean are on a knife-edge. Forecasts from Planet Tracker predict that, if things carry on as they are, ‘collapse’ – defined as a 70% reduction in biomass over a decade – will take place by 2026.

Why is the bluefin tuna population declining?

Overfishing. Bluefin tuna populations have declined severely from overfishing and illegal fishing over the past few decades –not just Atlantic bluefin tuna, but also Pacific bluefin tuna and Southern bluefin tuna. Population declines have been largely driven by the demand for this fish in high end sushi markets.

Will Salmon ever go extinct?

No, salmon are not endangered worldwide. For example, most populations in Alaska are healthy. Some populations in the Pacific Northwest are much healthier than others. These healthy populations usually occupy protected habitats such as the Hanford Reach on the Columbia River and streams of Olympic National Park.