Synonym/common names:
Big Eye, Big Eye Tuna, Big Eye Tunny, Big-Eye Tuna, Big-Eye Tunny, Bigeye, Bigeye Tuna, Bigeye Tuna Fish, Bigeye Tunny, Bigeye-Tuna, Bigeyed Tuna, Coffrey, Tuna.

Names in different languages:
Netherlands: Grootoogtonijn, Spain: Patudo, Italy: Tonno obeso, Denmark: Storøjet tun, Germany: Grossaugenthun, Portugal: Atum patudo, France: Thon obése, Japan: Mebachi, Indonesia: Tuna mata besar, Papua New Guinea: Matana Bwabwatana, China: 大目仔, Philippines: Bangkulis.

Information:

Habitat:

The Bigeye tuna appears in areas where seawater temperatures range from 13°-29°C, but the optimum temperature is between 17° and 22°C. The variation in occurrence of Bigeye tuna is closely related to seasonal and climatic changes in surface temperature and the thermocline.
Juveniles and small adults of Bigeye tuna school at the surface in groups of their own or mixed with other tunas, the adults on the other hand stay in deeper waters.

Distinctive Features:

The Bigeye tuna is also one of the larger species, the body is at its deepest near the middle of first dorsal fin base. The first arch consists of 23 to 31 gill rakers. The pectoral fins are very long in smaller individuals, but moderately long (22 to 31% of fork length) in large individuals (over 110 cm fork length).

Coloration:

The lower sides and belly of a Bigeye tuna are whitish with a lateral iridescent blue band along the side. The first dorsal fin is deep yellow, second and anal fins are light yellow. The finlets are bright yellow and edged with black. The pectoral fin exceeds the edge of the second dorsal fin.

Size, Age, and Growth:

The maximum fork size length of a Bigeye tuna is over 200 cm; but more common to 180 cm. The all-tackle angling record for the Pacific Ocean is a 197.3 kg fish from Cabo Blanco, Peru in 1957. This fish was 236 cm long but it was not specified whether this is pertained in fork length or total length. In the Atlantic Ocean, the all-tackle angling record is a 170.3 kg fish with a fork length of 206 cm taken off in ocean city, Maryland, USA in 1977.
Maturity seems to be attained at 100 to 130 cm fork length in the eastern Pacific and the Indian Ocean, and about 130 cm in the central Pacific Ocean.

Reproduction:

At the age of maturity (about 4 or 5 years old) and large adults (age over 10+) are known to spawn in the Gulf of Mexico and in the Mediterranean Sea. In the Pacific Ocean, spawning occurs northeast of the Philippines. Female Bigeye tuna can be weighing between 270 to 300 kg and may produce as many as 10 million eggs per spawning season.

Stock Status of Bigeye Tuna:

Ocean	Regional Management Organization	State of Stock	Last Edited
North Pacific Ocean	IATTC	Fully exploited	Year 2005
South Pacific Ocean	IATTC	Fully exploited	Year 2005
Eastern Pacific Ocean	IATTC	Overfished	Year 2008
Western and Central Pacific Ocean	WPFMC	Overfished	Year 2008
Indian Ocean	IOTC	Fully exploited	Year 2008
North Atlantic Ocean	ICCAT	Fully exploited	Year 2007
South Atlantic Ocean	ICCAT	Fully exploited	Year 2007

 

Conservation:

The Atlantic Ocean's Bigeye tuna population has declined from a healthy abundance level in 1961 (and even as recently as 1986) to an over fished condition by 2002. However, the population has not yet reached a dangerously low level, which begins at 50% of the Maximum sustainable yield (MSY) level. Its overall abundance has declined by about 58%, and it is declining moderately rapidly. Currently it is listed as vulnerable in the redlist of IUCN.

For comments and to add additional information, please email to: support@atuna.com