Species profile
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
Thunnus thynnus
Identify Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 13 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 16 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Massachusetts); the most generous is 20 (British Columbia).
Across 4 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 46.1 in (≈ 3 ft 10 in).
Confirmed by 91 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Massachusetts, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Atlantic bluefin can exceed 1,000 pounds, making them the largest tuna species on Earth.
- A single large bluefin sold for over $3 million at a Japanese fish auction in 2019.
- They can live for more than 40 years.
- Bluefin maintain body temperatures up to 10°C warmer than the surrounding seawater.
- They migrate across the entire Atlantic Ocean between North American feeding grounds and Mediterranean spawning areas.
Where Atlantic Bluefin Tuna are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
Background
The Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is a species of tuna in the family Scombridae. It is variously known as the northern bluefin tuna (mainly when including Pacific bluefin as a subspecies), giant bluefin tuna (for individuals exceeding 150 kilograms (330 lb)) and formerly as the tunny.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Atlantic Bluefin Tuna article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Atlantic Bluefin Tuna?
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 16 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna?
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna is Thunnus thynnus.
Is Atlantic Bluefin Tuna regulated for fishing?
Yes — Atlantic Bluefin Tuna has fishing regulations in 13 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Atlantic Bluefin Tuna?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Atlantic Bluefin Tuna along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.