1. Bigeye Tuna (Thunnus obesus) is also known as:
Big Eye, Big Eye Tuna, Big Eye Tunny, Big-Eye Tuna, Big-Eye Tunny, Bigeye, Bigeye Tuna, Bigeye Tuna Fish, Bigeye Tunny, Bigeye-Tuna, Bigeyed Tuna, Coffrey
2. The name of Bigeye Tuna in different language:
Netherlands: Grootoogtonijn, Spain: Patudo, Italy: Tonno obeso, Denmark: Storøjet tun, Germany: Grossaugenthun, Portugal: Atum patudo, France: Thon obése, Japan: Mebachi, Indonesia: Tuna mata besar, Papua New Guinea: Matana Bwabwatana, China: 大目仔, Philippines: Bangkulis.
3. What do Bigeye tuna look like?
The Bigeye tuna is also one of the larger species, the body is at its deepest near the middle of first dorsal fin base. The lower sides and belly of a Bigeye tuna are whitish with a lateral iridescent blue band along the side. The first dorsal fin is deep yellow, second and anal fins are light yellow. The finlets are bright yellow and edged with black. The pectoral fin exceeds the edge of the second dorsal fin.
Bigeye Tuna courtesy NOOA
4. How is Bigeye different to other Tuna species?
Bigeye tuna look a lot like Yellowfin. They are sometimes hard to distinguish. They swim at greater depth than Skipjack and Yellowfin, and therefore have more fat to insulate them from the cold water. Compared to Yellowfin, it has a plump body, a larger head and unusually large eyes.
5. What are the fishing methods for Bigeye?
Longline and handline, also trolling. Purse seine for smaller fish.
Coreing a 100+ Bigeye
6. How much Bigeye is caught compared to all tuna caught?
About 8 % or 256000 m/t
7. Where can you catch Bigeye tuna?
The Bigeye tuna appears in areas where seawater temperatures range from 13-29C, but the optimum temperature is between 17 and 22C. The variation in occurrence of Bigeye tuna is closely related to seasonal and climatic changes in surface temperature and the thermocline. Juveniles and small adults of Bigeye tuna school at the surface in groups of their own or mixed with other tunas, the adults on the other hand stay in deeper waters.
8. How do Bigeye tuna Reproduce?
At the age of maturity (about 4 or 5 years old) and large adults (age over 10+) are known to spawn in the Gulf of Mexico and in the Mediterranean Sea. In the Pacific Ocean, spawning occurs northeast of the Philippines. Female Bigeye tuna can be weighing between 270 to 300 kg and may produce as many as 10 million eggs per spawning season.
9. How is Bigeye tuna being Conserved?
The Atlantic Ocean’s Bigeye tuna population has declined from a healthy abundance level in 1961 (and even as recently as 1986) to an over fished condition by 2002. However, the population has not yet reached a dangerously low level, which begins at 50% of the Maximum sustainable yield (MSY) level. Its overall abundance has declined by about 58%, and it is declining moderately rapidly. Currently it is listed as vulnerable in the redlist of IUCN.
Recently, the Asia-Pacific nations agreed to cut their catches of bigeye tuna by 30% by 2011 in order to help preserve the fish.
Tags: Bigeye Tuna, Fisheries Management, Fishing, Mediterranean Tuna, Tuna stocks