Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Also known as Tuna, Big eye, Ahi-b
Culinary Profile
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Firm and moist with large flakes.
Bigeye tuna is low in saturated fat and sodium and is rich in niacin, vitamins B6 and B12, selenium, and phosphorous.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Bigeye tuna are dark metallic blue on the back and upper sides and white on the lower sides and belly. The first fin on their back is deep yellow, the second dorsal and anal fins are pale yellow, and the finlets are bright yellow with black edges. Bigeye and yellowfin tuna look fairly similar. In fact, it’s hard to distinguish the two species without experience.
Biology
Bigeye tuna grow fast and can reach about 5.5 feet in length. They can live up to 9 years and are able to reproduce when they are 3.5 years old. Bigeye tuna spawn throughout the year but most often in the summer. They usually spawn two or more times a year. Females release between 3 million and 6 million eggs each time they spawn.
Where They Live
Range Bigeye tuna live in the tropical and warm temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. In the western Atlantic, they can be found from Southern Nova Scotia to Brazil. Habitat Bigeye tuna are a highly migratory species, swimming long distances throughout the ocean.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Massachusetts to Florida.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: U.S. harvest of Atlantic bigeye tuna is usually only a small fraction (1 percent or less) of the global Atlantic bigeye harvest. Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: U.S. commercial fishermen mainly harvest bigeye tuna using pelagic longlines. They sometimes use rod-and-reel gear. Fishing gear used to catch bigeye tuna rarely contacts the seafloor so habitat impacts are minimal. Commercial fishing gear can catch protected species such as marine mammals and sea turtles. NOAA Fisheries has taken the following additional measures to reduce bycatch, bycatch mortality, and sustainably manage the pelagic longline fishery. Fishermen are: Required to use large circle hooks and certain types of bait that limit gear interactions with sea turtles.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 106 Species
Where Atlantic Bigeye Tuna ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selenium | 41.2 µg | 22 / 106 | 79% |
| Iron | 1 mg | 23 / 111 | 79% |
| Zinc | 0.56 mg | 40 / 111 | 64% |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.2 µg | 76 / 106 | 28% |
| Protein | 16.04 g | 84 / 111 | 24% |
| Phosphorus | 178 mg | 90 / 111 | 19% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 55 mg | 97 / 104 | 7% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 14 mg | 98 / 104 | 6% |
Other Species in Genus Thunnus
7 close biological relatives of Atlantic Bigeye Tuna profiled in this catalogue — typically sharing similar anatomy, depth range, and fishery management.
| Species | Scientific name | Protein (g/100 g) | Omega-3 DHA (mg) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Yellowfin Tuna | Thunnus albacares | 24.4 | 88 | Smart Choice |
| North Atlantic Albacore Tuna | Thunnus alalunga | 16.04 | 55 | Smart Choice |
| Pacific Albacore Tuna | Thunnus alalunga | 16.04 | 55 | Smart Choice |
| Pacific Bigeye Tuna | Thunnus obesus | 16.04 | 55 | Smart Choice |
| Pacific Bluefin Tuna | Thunnus orientalis | 23.33 | 890 | Smart Choice |
| Pacific Yellowfin Tuna | Thunnus albacares | 24.4 | 88 | Smart Choice |
| Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna | Thunnus thynnus | 23.33 | 890 | Smart Choice |
Other New England/Mid-Atlantic Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Atlantic Bigeye Tuna.
Atlantic Blacktip Shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
Sweet, meaty taste.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Atlantic Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Mild flavor.
Atlantic Herring
Clupea harengus
Small fresh herring have a more delicate flavor, while larger herring have a fuller, oilier flavor.
Atlantic Mackerel
Scomber scombrus
Mackerel has a rich, pronounced flavor. For a milder flavor, cut out the outer bands of dark meat along the midline.
Atlantic Mahi Mahi
Coryphaena hippurus
Mahi mahi has a sweet, mild flavor. For a milder flavor, trim away darker portions of the meat.
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
Rhizoprionodon terraenovae
Reported to be quite tasty.
Atlantic Skipjack Tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
Skipjack tuna has the most pronounced taste of all of the tropical tunas.
Atlantic Spiny Dogfish
Squalus acanthias
Mild and sweet.
Atlantic Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
Both wild-caught and farmed striped bass have a slightly sweet flavor.
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of Atlantic Bigeye Tuna, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Pollock
Gadus chalcogrammus
Pollock has mild-tasting flesh and is similar to other white fish like cod or haddock.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Atlantic Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Mild flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What else is Atlantic Bigeye Tuna called?
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna is also marketed as Tuna, Big eye, Ahi-b.
Where in the water column does Atlantic Bigeye Tuna live?
Range Bigeye tuna live in the tropical and warm temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. In the western Atlantic, they can be found from Southern Nova Scotia to Brazil. Habitat Bigeye tuna are a highly migratory species, swimming long distances throughout the ocean.
Is Atlantic Bigeye Tuna a good source of vitamin B12?
Yes — Atlantic Bigeye Tuna provides 1.2 µg of vitamin B12 per 100 g raw, which is 50% of the 2.4 µg daily value.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught Atlantic bigeye tuna—while only a small percent (about 1 percent) of the total Atlantic-wide harvest—is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
According to the 2021 stock assessment, Atlantic bigeye tuna is overfished, but not subject to overfishing. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART . The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) assesses the abundance of Atlantic bigeye tuna and evaluates the sustainability of current and proposed harvest practices.
Population
The stock is overfished, but the fishing rate established under a domestic conservation and management plan promotes population growth.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gear used to catch bigeye tuna rarely contacts the seafloor so habitat impacts are minimal.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Division manage the Atlantic bigeye tuna fishery in the United States. Managed under the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan : Commercial fishermen must have a permit to harvest bigeye tuna Gear restrictions Time/area closures Minimum size limit Federal management for Atlantic tunas…
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 20 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.