Pacific Bluefin Tuna
Thunnus orientalis
Also known as Northern bluefin tuna, Tuna, Bluefin tuna
Culinary Profile
Bluefin has a distinctive flavor. With its high fat content, it is especially prized for sushi and sashimi. Cooking is generally not advised as it produces a strong fish taste and odor.
Bluefin tuna flesh is the darkest and fattiest of any tuna. A higher fat content in bluefin tuna is equated with a higher-quality product. The flesh has the firmness and appearance of beef steaks.
Bluefin tuna is a very good source of protein, thiamin, selenium, vitamin B6, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Pacific bluefin tuna have black or dark blue dorsal sides, with a grayish-green iridescence. Their bellies are dotted with silver or gray spots or bands. They have a series of small yellow fins, edged in black, running from the second dorsal fin to the tail. A distinguishing characteristic of Pacific bluefin tuna is that the tips of the pectoral fins do not reach the front of the second dorsal fin.
Biology
Pacific bluefin tunas reach maturity at approximately 5 years of age and can live up to 26 years, although the average lifespan is about 15 years. Adults are approximately 1.5 meters (4 feet 11 inches) long and weigh about 60 kilograms (130 pounds). The maximum reported length and weight for Pacific bluefin tuna is 3 meters (9.8 feet) in length and 450 kilograms (990 pounds).
Where They Live
Range Most of the U.S. catch of Pacific bluefin tuna is within about 100 nautical miles of the California coast. Habitat Bluefin tuna are highly migratory and travel long distances throughout the Pacific Ocean. They are found mostly in temperate ocean waters but also in the tropics and cooler coastal regions. Of the tunas, Pacific bluefin tuna have the largest geographic range.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round, but most Pacific bluefin tuna are caught between May and October, and are sold to local restaurants.
Source
U.S. wild-caught along the West Coast, primarily from California.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: The average annual bluefin landings by U.S. commercial vessels fishing in the eastern Pacific Ocean represent only 2 percent of the average annual landings from all fleets fishing there. U.S.-caught Pacific bluefin tuna are commonly landed in California by fishermen who sell to local restaurants. In 2023, U.S. commercial landings of Pacific bluefin tuna totaled 400,000 pounds and were valued at $2.3 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Purse seine, hook-and-line, and harpoon gear are used to catch Pacific bluefin tuna. Fishing gear used to catch bluefin tuna rarely contacts the seafloor so habitat impacts are minimal.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 111 Species
Where Pacific Bluefin Tuna ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 23.33 g | 5 / 111 | 95% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 890 mg | 8 / 104 | 92% |
| Vitamin B12 | 9.43 µg | 10 / 106 | 91% |
| Choline | 65 mg | 12 / 65 | 82% |
| Phosphorus | 254 mg | 14 / 111 | 87% |
| Vitamin D | 5.7 IU | 17 / 54 | 69% |
| Iron | 1.02 mg | 21 / 111 | 81% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 283 mg | 26 / 104 | 75% |
| Selenium | 36.5 µg | 32 / 106 | 70% |
| Zinc | 0.6 mg | 38 / 111 | 66% |
Other Species in Genus Thunnus
7 close biological relatives of Pacific Bluefin 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 |
| 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 Yellowfin Tuna | Thunnus albacares | 24.4 | 88 | Smart Choice |
| Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna | Thunnus thynnus | 23.33 | 890 | Smart Choice |
Other Pacific Islands Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Pacific Bluefin Tuna.
North Pacific Swordfish
Xiphias gladius
Moist, flavorful, and slightly sweet.
Pacific Albacore Tuna
Thunnus alalunga
Mild, rich taste.
Pacific Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfinand is preferred by sashimi lovers.
Pacific Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Mild flavor.
Pacific Mahimahi
Coryphaena hippurus
Mahimahi has a sweet, mild flavor. For a milder flavor, trim away the darker portions of the meat.
Pacific Shortfin Mako Shark
Isurus oxyrinchus
Sweet with a full-bodied, meaty taste.
Pacific Skipjack Tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
Skipjack tuna has the most pronounced taste of all of the tropical tunas.
Pacific Wahoo
Acanthocybium solanderi
Lean and mild.
Pacific Yellowfin Tuna
Thunnus albacares
Yellowfin tuna has a mild, meaty flavor. It’s more flavorful than albacore, but leaner than bluefin.
Striped Marlin
Kajikia audax
Distinctive flavor similar to but more pronounced than swordfish. It is considered the finest eating of all marlin speci…
Frequently Asked Questions
How much choline does Pacific Bluefin Tuna contain?
A 100 g raw serving of Pacific Bluefin Tuna supplies 65 mg of choline, around 12% of the 550 mg daily value — notable for prenatal and liver-health contexts.
Is Pacific Bluefin Tuna a good source of omega-3 fatty acids?
Per 100 g raw, Pacific Bluefin Tuna supplies 283 mg of EPA and 890 mg of DHA — the two long-chain omega-3s most cited in cardiovascular research.
What else is Pacific Bluefin Tuna called?
Pacific Bluefin Tuna is also marketed as Northern bluefin tuna, Tuna, Bluefin tuna.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught Pacific bluefin 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, Pacific bluefin tuna is not overfished and not subject to overfishing. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART .
Population
The stock is not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gear used to catch bluefin tuna rarely contacts the seafloor so habitat impacts are minimal.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
Management of highly migratory species, such as Pacific bluefin tuna, is complicated because they migrate thousands of miles across oceans and international borders and are fished by many nations. Effective conservation and management of these resources requires international cooperation as well as strong domestic management.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 21 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.