A single female albacore produces millions of eggs over her lifetime; however, the majority of these eggs do not survive to the adult stage. Larvae and juveniles also experience high mortality, given their vulnerability as prey for other marine animals, including adult albacore, which have been observed to be cannibalistic. Instantaneous rate of natural mortality (M) is assumed to be between 0.20 and 0.30, which translates to annual mortality rates of roughly 22 to 35%. Albacore are believed to reach a maximum age of roughly 11-12 years, although interpretations of age for older fish are typically subject to increased uncertainty and thus, longevity cannot be strictly defined at this time.