© Casper Douma / WWF
Bigeye tuna
Bigeye tuna are generally the size of yellowfin and smaller than bluefin. They are long and streamlined, have dark metallic blue on their backs and upper sides, and are nearly white on their lower sides and belly. They can live as long as 15 years. Bigeye are found in the subtropical and tropical areas of the Atlantic (but not in the Mediterranean), Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
Bigeye tuna facts
- Status View status categories and descriptions
- Vulnerable
- Scientific name
- Thunnus obesus
- Weight
- Up to 460 lbs.
- Length
- Up to 7.5 ft.
- Habitats
- Oceans
Why bigeye tuna matter
© ISSF 2012
Bigeye tuna are an important commercial fish, usually marketed as fresh or frozen. Although tuna do provide food and livelihoods for people, they are more than just seafood. Tuna are a top predator in the marine food chain, maintaining a balance in the ocean environment.
Threats to bigeye tuna
Overfishing
Bigeye tuna are prized in Asia for sashimi as well as frozen and fresh in other markets. As bluefin tuna populations shrink around the world, pressure on bigeye fisheries is increasing. According to information collected by the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) Scientific Advisory Committee, overfishing is occurring in the Eastern and Western Pacific Oceans.
Bycatch
Juvenile bigeye tuna are increasingly caught as bycatch in skipjack tuna fisheries because they school with skipjack.
How WWF is taking action to protect bigeye tuna
Tuna are integral parts of the entire marine ecosystem, and our goal is for populations to be healthy and well-managed. We partner with governments and regional fisheries management organizations to advocate for stricter plans to recover depleted tuna stocks, combat pirate fishing, and reduce bycatch.
WWF works with other organizations and the fishing industry to transform tuna fishing into a sustainable business, particularly through certification of tuna fisheries by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). WWF helps ensure that tuna are harvested responsibly and sustainably managed through work with the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). We encourage retailers to source from fisheries that are MSC-certified and work to raise consumer awareness about sustainably caught tuna.
How you can help
© WWF
Ocean-themed gifts
Support WWF's global conservation efforts and choose from symbolic adoptions, apparel, and more!
