YELLOWFIN TUNA

Thunnus albacares

A yellowfin tuna is torpedo in shape, able to turn on a dime and incredibly powerful! The dorsal fin, anal fins and finlets are bright yellow and an adult yellowfin tuna can be distinguished from other tunas by its long, bright-yellow dorsal fin and a yellow stripe down its side.

Yellowfin tuna grow fast and have a somewhat short life span of 6 to 7 years. By the age of 2 years, most yellowfin are able to reproduce. They spawn throughout the year in tropical waters and seasonally at higher latitudes in the spring and fall. 

Adult yellowfin tuna feed on fish, squid, and crustaceans. While many types of fish, seabirds, dolphins, and other animals prey on larval and juvenile tuna, adult tuna are preyed upon by marine mammals, billfish, and sharks.

Yellowfin tuna are found near the surface of tropical and subtropical oceans around the world.