Albacore

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For other uses, see Albacore (disambiguation).

iAlbacore

Albacore Tuna, Thunnus alalunga

Conservation status

Data deficient (DD)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Scombridae
Genus:	Thunnus
Species:	T. alalunga

Binomial name

Thunnus alalunga
(Bonnaterre, 1788)

The albacore (Thunnus alalunga) is a type of tuna in the family Scombridae. It is found in the open waters of all tropical and temperate oceans, and the Mediterranean Sea.

The pectoral fins of the albacore are very long, as much as 30% of the total length. The dorsal spines are 11-14 in number, and well forward of the rays of the dorsal fin. The anterior spines are much longer, giving a concave outline to the spiny part of the dorsal fin. Lengths range up to 140 cm and weights up to 60.3 kg.

A chunk of semi-cooked Albacore from Fiji

Albacore is a prized food, and the albacore fishery is economically significant. Methods of fishing include pole and line, long-line fishing, trolling, and some purse seining . However, albacores have been observed to accumulate higher levels of mercury than other types of tuna, and some groups have urged testing and recall of canned albacore with high mercury levels. Long-line albacore are older fish and have accumulated more mercury than younger, troll caught albacore. Albacores are also sought after by sport fishers. They are the only tuna species which may be marketed as "white meat tuna" in the United States.

This species may also be called albacore fish, albacore tuna, bastard albacore,longfin, albies, pigfish, Pacific albacore, German bonito (but see bonito), longfin tuna, longfin tunny, or even just tuna.

In some parts of the world, other species may be called "albacore":

Blackfin tuna Thunnus atlantics (albacore)
Yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares (albacore, autumn albacore, yellowfinned albacore)
Yellowtail amberjack Seriola lalandi (albacore)
Kawakawa Euthynnus affinis (false albacore)
Little tunny Euthynnus alletteratus (false albacore)