Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre, 1788)

English Name: Yellowfin tuna
Family: SCOMBRIDAE
Local Name: Reendhoo uraha kanneli
Order: Perciformes
Size: Max. 2 m
Specimen: MRS/0012/86

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Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fins close together. The first with prolonged spines anteriorly giving a strongly concave outline. First dorsal with 13-14 spines, second dorsal and anal fin extremely tall in large specimens. 7-10 finlets behind second dorsal and anal fins. Pectoral fins moderately long, usually reaching beyond second dorsal fin origin. No striations on ventral surface of liver; right lobe elongated.

Colour: Metallic steel blue on back to silvery below. Belly crossed by about 20 broken, lines of light spots which curve posteriorly. Dorsal and anal fins and finlets bright yellow.

Habitat and Biology: Epipelagic, oceanic, above and below the thermocline. Forms schools by size, also with other species. Feeds on wide variety of fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods.

Distribution: World-wide in tropical and subtropical seas.

Remarks: Thunnus albacares is the second most important species in the Maldivian fishery. It accounts for roughly 10% of the total recorded catch. Most yellowfin tunas caught in the Maldives are juveniles of about 30-60 cm fork length, taken by pole and line. However, increasing numbers of adults are being taken by livebait handline.