Atlantic Yellowfin Tuna
Thunnus albacares
Also known as Tuna, Ahi
Culinary Profile
Yellowfin tuna has a mild, meaty flavor. It’s more flavorful than albacore, but leaner than bluefin tuna.
The meat is firm and moist with large flakes.
Yellowfin tuna is low in saturated fat and sodium and is a very good source of protein, thiamin, selenium, vitamin B6, and omega-3s.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Yellowfin tuna are torpedo-shaped. They are metallic dark blue on the back and upper sides, and change from yellow to silver on the belly. True to their name, their dorsal and anal fins and finlets are bright yellow. Yellowfin tuna can be distinguished from other tunas by their long, bright yellow dorsal fin and a yellow strip down the side. They are also more slender than bluefin tuna.
Biology
Yellowfin tuna grow fairly fast, up to 400 pounds, and have a somewhat short life span of about 7 years. Most yellowfin tuna are able to reproduce when they reach age 2 or 3. In the western Atlantic, they spawn from May to August in the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico) and from July to November in the southeastern Caribbean.
Where They Live
Range Yellowfin tuna are found near the surface of tropical and subtropical oceans around the world. Habitat Yellowfin tuna are highly migratory and can swim across an entire ocean. Juvenile yellowfin tuna travel in schools with skipjack and juvenile bigeye tuna. Fishery Management NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Division manage the Atlantic yellowfin tuna fishery in the United States.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Massachusetts to Texas.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: U.S. landings of Atlantic yellowfin tuna generally represent a small percentage of the total international landings of Atlantic yellowfin tuna. Yellowfin tuna is the principal species of tropical tuna landed by U.S. fisheries in the western North Atlantic. The majority of U.S. commercial landings come from the longline fleet operating in the northwest Atlantic, Gulf of America, and Caribbean. Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: U.S. commercial fishermen primarily use longline, rod-and-reel, and handline gear to harvest Atlantic yellowfin tuna.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 106 Species
Where Atlantic Yellowfin 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 | 90.6 µg | 1 / 106 | 99% |
| Protein | 24.4 g | 2 / 111 | 98% |
| Phosphorus | 278 mg | 5 / 111 | 95% |
| Choline | 65 mg | 12 / 65 | 82% |
| Vitamin D | 1.7 IU | 33 / 54 | 39% |
| Vitamin B12 | 2.08 µg | 43 / 106 | 59% |
| Iron | 0.77 mg | 46 / 111 | 59% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 88 mg | 85 / 104 | 18% |
| Zinc | 0.37 mg | 91 / 111 | 18% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 12 mg | 102 / 104 | 2% |
Other Species in Genus Thunnus
7 close biological relatives of Atlantic Yellowfin 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 Bigeye Tuna | Thunnus obesus | 16.04 | 55 | 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 Yellowfin Tuna.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
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.
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of Atlantic Yellowfin 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 Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Atlantic Yellowfin Tuna reproduce?
Yellowfin tuna grow fairly fast, up to 400 pounds, and have a somewhat short life span of about 7 years. Most yellowfin tuna are able to reproduce when they reach age 2 or 3. In the western Atlantic, they spawn from May to August in the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico) and from July to November in the southeastern Caribbean.
What is the texture of Atlantic Yellowfin Tuna meat?
The meat is firm and moist with large flakes.
Is Atlantic Yellowfin Tuna a good source of vitamin B12?
Yes — Atlantic Yellowfin Tuna provides 2.08 µg of vitamin B12 per 100 g raw, which is 87% of the 2.4 µg daily value.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught Atlantic yellowfin tuna is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
According to the 2024 stock assessment, Atlantic yellowfin tuna is not overfished and 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 yellowfin tuna and evaluates the sustainability of current and proposed harvest practice…
Population
The stock is not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gears used to harvest yellowfin tuna have almost no impact on habitat because they’re used in the water column and don’t come into contact with the ocean floor.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Division manage the Atlantic yellowfin tuna fishery in the United States. Managed under the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan and amendments: Commercial fishermen must have a permit to harvest yellowfin tuna. Gear restrictions. Time/area closures. Minimum size limit.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 22 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.