North Atlantic Albacore Tuna (Thunnus alalunga)

• North Atlantic albacore tuna population levels are low, and international overfishing is occurring.
• North Atlantic albacore tuna is managed both domestically (by NMFS Highly Migratory Species Management Division) and internationally (by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas and other organizations).
• Albacore is very low in sodium and is a very good source of protein, vitamin A, vitamin B12, selenium, and niacin. Albacore ("white") tuna may have more mercury than canned light tuna. The FDA and EPA recommend that moms, moms-to-be, and young children only eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week. For more on nutrition, see Nutrition Facts. (USDA)
• Historically, albacore tuna has not been a main focus of the U.S. commercial tuna fisheries operating in the North Atlantic. In 2007, U.S. landings of North Atlantic albacore tuna were approximately 1% of the international harvest.

Sustainability Status

Biomass: The biomass of North Atlantic albacore is 81% of the biomass needed to support maximum sustainable yield.
Overfishing: Yes
Overfished: Yes
Fishing and habitat: Surface fleets utilizing troll gear mainly target juveniles, and pelagic longliners mainly target adults. Habitat damage from fishing gear used to capture highly migratory species, other than bottom longlines, is minor because the gear rarely makes contact with ocean floor habitats.
Bycatch: Pelagic longline gear sometimes catches non-target finfish with little or no commercial value, as well as species that cannot be retained by commercial fishermen due to regulations, such as billfish. Pelagic longlines may also interact with protected species such as marine mammals, sea turtles, and seabirds. Area closures are used to minimize bycatch by closing ocean areas that historically have the highest rates of bycatch, and Vessel Monitoring Systems are required on U.S. Atlantic pelagic longline vessels to enforce closures and monitor the fishery. Circle hooks are also required to increase post-release survival of animals that are inadvertently caught. Additionally, U.S. Atlantic pelagic longline fishermen must attend workshops to learn how to properly handle and release these animals. The Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico pelagic longline fishery is designated as a Category I fishery according to the List of Fisheries published annually by NMFS as required under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This means that annual mortality and serious injury of certain marine mammal stocks in this fishery is greater than or equal to 50 percent of the Potential Biological Removal level (the maximum number of animals, not including natural mortalities, that may be removed from a marine mammal stock while allowing it to be at sustainable levels). NMFS is addressing this challenge through the Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Team, which works to reduce serious injuries and mortalities of short-finned pilot whales, long-finned pilot whales, and Risso's dolphins in the Mid-Atlantic portion of the Atlantic pelagic longline fishery
Aquaculture: There is currently no commercial aquaculture of albacore tuna in the United States.

Science and Management

In the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea, the U.S. fishery for albacore tuna is managed by National Marine Fisheries Service Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Management Division through the 2006 Consolidated HMS Fishery Management Plan. Management measures include gear restrictions, time/area closures, and quotas. North Atlantic albacore was declared overfished in 1999. NMFS formally incorporated the northern albacore rebuilding program into the consolidated HMS FMP.

Atlantic HMS, such as albacore tuna, are also managed internationally by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), of which the United States is a member. ICCAT conservation and management recommendations include total allowable catches, sharing arrangements for member countries, minimum size limits, effort controls, time/area closures, trade measures, compliance measures, and monitoring and inspection programs. The United States has authority to implement recommendations it accepts under the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act. For 2008 and 2009, ICCAT has established a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 30,200 metric tons for albacore tuna, of which the United States is allocated 538 metric tons per year. ICCAT members can carry over underharvest of their quota to the next year but must limit it to 25% of its initial catch quota.

The United States has responsibilities under the United Nations Agreement on the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (known as the UNFSA). The United States is also a member of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which has implications for HMS management. In 1995 the FAO's Committee on Fisheries developed a Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, which was adopted by more than 170 member countries, including the United States.

Life History and Habitat

Life history, including information on the habitat, growth, feeding, and reproduction of a species, is important because it affects how a fishery is managed.

• Geographic range: North Atlantic albacore are found throughout the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
• Habitat: Albacore is a temperate tuna. Juveniles are mainly found in warmer surface waters, while adults are found in cooler and deeper waters.
• Life span: Males live longer than females in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. The maximum lifespan of albacore in the Atlantic is 13 years, while it is only 9 years in the Mediterranean.
• Food: Albacore feed on fish, crustaceans, and squid.
• Growth rate: Relatively fast. Males grow to a larger size than females in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
• Maximum size: Up to 4.2 feet and 88 pounds.
• Reaches reproductive maturity: In the Atlantic, albacore mature at 3 feet fork length, at 5 years of age.
• Reproduction: Reproductive potential generally increases with size. A 44-pound female may produce 2 to 3 million eggs per season, which are released in at least two batches.
• Spawning season: During spring and summer.
• Spawning grounds: In subtropical western areas of both hemispheres and throughout the Mediterranean Sea.
• Migrations: Albacore are a highly migratory species. Schools of albacore may include other tuna species such as skipjack, yellowfin, and bluefin tuna.
• Predators: Many sharks, rays, larger tunas, and billfishes prey upon albacore. Because albacore are valuable commercial fish, humans are also important predators.
• Commercial or recreational interest: Both
• Distinguishing characteristics: Albacore have very small scales on their body. Their pectoral fins are remarkably long, about 30% of fork length or longer in 1.6 feet or longer fish.

Role in the Ecosystem

Albacore tuna are towards the top of the food chain and prey upon many aquatic species. They are also prey for top predators such as sharks.

Additional Information

Market name: Tuna, Albacore Tuna
Vernacular names: Germon, Longfinned Tuna, Longfinned Albacore, Albecor, T. Gero
Several other species are also marketed as tuna.

Biomass

Biomass refers to the amount of Atlantic albacore in the ocean. Scientists cannot collect and weigh every single fish to determine biomass, so they use mathematical models to estimate it instead. These biomass estimates can help determine if a stock is being fished too heavily or if it may be able to tolerate more fishing pressure. Managers can then make appropriate changes in the regulations of the fishery.

ICCAT most recently assessed North Atlantic albacore in 2007. The assessment concluded that spawning stock size has declined and is currently about one quarter of the peak levels estimated for the late 1940s. The stock was declared overfished in 1999 but has increased to levels near the biomass needed to support maximum sustainable yield (B_MSY). The current stock size is approximately 20% below the B_MSY level, compared to 2000 when it was 50% below B_MSY.

Landings

Landings refer to the amount of catch that is brought to land. Historically, albacore has not been a main focus of the U.S. commercial tuna fisheries operating in the North Atlantic. The commercial pelagic longline fishery harvests northern albacore tuna incidentally in swordfish and other tuna fisheries. Reported commercial catches were relatively low prior to 1986; however, these catches increased substantially and have remained at higher levels throughout the 1990s. Since the ICCAT recommendation of a 607 metric ton total allowable catch (TAC) was implemented, U.S. landings have been below that level. However, the total catch (including international fisheries) from the North Atlantic albacore tuna stock exceeded the overall TAC in 2005 and 2006, resulting in a lower U.S. TAC (538 metric tons) for 2008 and 2009. Calendar year landings for the U.S. in 2005, 2006, and 2007 were 487, 396, and 532 metric tons, respectively.

Note: U.S. commercial and recreational landings are shown in the graph.

Biomass and Landings

Landings and biomass data can sometimes be used to detect trends in a fishery. Because there does not seem to be much of a trend in U.S. landings since 2001, it is difficult to determine if landings are affecting the North Atlantic albacore tuna population. Other factors, such as changes in management measures, fishing effort, market preferences, or environmental conditions may impact landings and biomass as well. Also, because albacore tuna is a highly migratory species that moves outside of U.S. waters, fishing practices of foreign countries could affect U.S. North Atlantic albacore tuna landings and the biomass of the population.

Data sources:
Landings from NOAA Highly Migratory Species Division

Important Dates

1966 – International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas is signed creating the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
1990 – Magnuson Act amended, giving authority to Secretary of Commerce to manage Atlantic tunas; secretarial authority is delegated to NMFS
1992 – NMFS created the HMS Management Division to manage Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish, and billfish
1999 – First FMP for Atlantic tunas is established (previously only managed under the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act); NMFS identifies the North Atlantic albacore stock as overfished
2006 – Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan is approved and implemented; combines the management of all Atlantic HMS into one comprehensive FMP, establishes a foundation with ICCAT to develop an international rebuilding plan for albacore tuna, allows the use of speargun gear in Atlantic tuna recreational fisheries, and shifts the fishing year to a calendar year for all HMS species
2007 – ICCAT sets TAC of 30,200 metric tons for North Atlantic albacore for 2008 and 2009 (United States is allocated 538 metric tons)
2008 – NMFS authorizes the use of green-stick gear to harvest Atlantic tunas

Notes and Links

General Information:
Atlantic Tunas Description

International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas

Introduction to NMFS Highly Migratory Species Management Division

Fishery Management:
Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan

Stock Assessments:
2007 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation Report for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species

ICCAT Report 2006-2007

ICCAT 2007 Report of the Standing Committee on Research and Statistic (Stock assessment update)