Primefact Southern Bluefin Tuna - Thunnus maccoyii

Factsheet Number:  Edition:  Released/reviewed:

The Southern Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) is a large, slow growing, silver-white fish with a blue-black upper body and yellow tinged fins.

Southern Bluefin Tuna are found in oceanic waters normally on the seaward side of the continental shelf. In NSW, Southern Bluefin Tuna occur from northern NSW to the Victorian border. They are considered rare within the NSW State Waters boundary of three nautical miles.

Southern Bluefin Tuna have declined dramatically since the 1980's in both international waters and nationally, primarily due to commercial fishing for world sashimi markets.

Southern Bluefin Tuna is listed as endangered in NSW.

The Primefact covers the following topics:

• Introduction
• Description
• Habitat and ecology
• Why is the Southern Bluefin Tuna threatened?
• Fishing for Southern Bluefin Tuna in NSW
• Conservation and recovery actions
• Legal implications