Pacific Yellowfin Tuna
Thunnus albacares
Also known as Ahi, Kihada
Culinary Profile
Yellowfin tuna has a mild, meaty flavor. It’s more flavorful than albacore, but leaner than bluefin.
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. An adult yellowfin tuna can be distinguished from other tunas by its long, bright-yellow dorsal fin and a yellow stripe down its side.
Biology
Yellowfin tuna grow fast, up to 6 feet long and 400 pounds, and have a somewhat short life span of 6 to 7 years. Most yellowfin tuna are able to reproduce when they reach age 2. They spawn throughout the year in tropical waters and seasonally at higher latitudes. Their peak spawning periods are in spring and fall. Yellowfin are very productive.
Where They Live
Range Yellowfin tuna are found in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world, including the waters around the U.S. Pacific Islands and off southern California. Habitat Yellowfin tuna are highly migratory and travel long distances throughout the warm ocean. They favor water temperatures between 64° and 88° F. They make annual trips to higher latitudes as water temperatures increase with the seasons.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Hawaii, California, U.S. Pacific Island territories, and the high seas.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: U.S. harvest of yellowfin tuna in the Pacific Ocean makes up only a small percentage of the yellowfin tuna harvested worldwide. In 2023, commercial landings of Pacific yellowfin tuna totaled 7.8 million pounds and were valued at $30 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Fishermen based in Hawaii, American Samoa, and the U.S. Pacific Islands target Pacific yellowfin tuna with hook-and-line, pelagic longline, or troll fishing gear. U.S. commercial purse seine fishermen in the western and central Pacific Ocean and the eastern Pacific Ocean also harvest yellowfin tuna. There is a small U.S.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 106 Species
Where Pacific 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 Pacific 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 Yellowfin 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 Bluefin Tuna
Thunnus orientalis
Bluefin has a distinctive flavor. With its high fat content, it is especially prized for sushi and sashimi.
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.
Striped Marlin
Kajikia audax
Distinctive flavor similar to but more pronounced than swordfish. It is considered the finest eating of all marlin speci…
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of Pacific 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 Pacific Yellowfin Tuna reproduce?
Yellowfin tuna grow fast, up to 6 feet long and 400 pounds, and have a somewhat short life span of 6 to 7 years. Most yellowfin tuna are able to reproduce when they reach age 2. They spawn throughout the year in tropical waters and seasonally at higher latitudes. Their peak spawning periods are in spring and fall. Yellowfin are very productive.
What is the texture of Pacific Yellowfin Tuna meat?
The meat is firm and moist, with large flakes.
How long do Pacific Yellowfin Tuna live?
Life span of 6 to 7 years.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught Pacific yellowfin tuna is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
There are two stocks of Pacific yellowfin tuna: The Eastern Pacific stock and the Central and Western Pacific stock. According to the most recent stock assessments: The Eastern Pacific stock is not overfished and not subject to overfishing (2023 stock assessment). Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART .
Population
The stocks are not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gear used to catch Pacific yellowfin tuna rarely contacts the seafloor so habitat impacts are minimal.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage the Pacific yellowfin tuna fishery on the West Coast. Managed under the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species : Fishermen are required to have permits and to record their catch in logbooks.
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.