Albacore tuna  (Thunnus alalunga)

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Glossary

  • Dorsal fin: the unpaired fin found on the back of the body of fish, or the raised structure on the back of most cetaceans.
  • El Niño: a natural phenomenon that happens every 4 to 12 years, and lasts for several months, when upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water does not occur. This causes the warming of ocean surface water off the western coast of South America and causes die-offs of plankton and fish. It also affects Pacific jet stream winds, altering storm tracks and creating unusual weather patterns in various parts of the world.
  • Epipelagic: inhabiting the sunlit region of the ocean between the surface and a depth of 200 metres.
  • Haemoglobin: a protein found in red blood cells that is responsible for carrying oxygen around the body.
  • Mesopelagic: inhabiting the region of the ocean extending from 200 metres down to around 1,000 metres below sea level.
  • Pectoral fins: in fish, the pair of fins that are found one on each side of the body just behind the gills. They are generally used for balancing and braking.
  • Spawning: the production or depositing of large quantities of eggs in water.

References

  1. IUCN Red List (October, 2007)
    http://www.iucnredlist.org/
  2. Collette, B.B. and Nauen, C.E. (1983) FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 2: Scombrids of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related species known to date.Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
  3. Southwest Fisheries Science Center: Albacore Research (January, 2008)
    http://swfsc.noaa.gov/textblock.aspx?Division=FRD&id=1168&ParentMenuId=139
  4. NSW Department of Primary Industries (January, 2008)
    http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/recreational/saltwater-fishing/sw-species/albacore
  5. Atuna: Tuna Species Guide (January, 2008)
    http://www.atuna.com/
  6. Kimura, S., Nakai, M. and Sugimoto, T. (1997) Migration of alabcore, Thunnus alalunga, in the North Pacific Ocean in relation to large oceanic phenomena. Fisheries Oceanography, 6 (2): 51 - 57.
  7. ICCAT (January, 2008)
    http://www.iccat.es/
  8. SeaChoice (January, 2008)
    http://www.seachoice.org/profile/70/view
  9. IATTC (January, 2008)
    http://www.iattc.org/
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