Skipjack Tuna
Skipjack are the smallest and
most abundant of the major commercial tuna species. They have a streamlined
body that is mostly without scales. Their backs are dark purple-blue and their
lower sides and bellies are silver with four to six dark bands. Skipjack can
live as long as 8-10 years. They are found mainly in the tropical areas of the
Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, with the greatest abundance seen near the
equator. Skipjack usually swim near the surface at night and can dive up to 850
feet during the day. Large schools of adult skipjack tuna often mix with
juvenile yellowfin and bigeye tuna.
Why they matter
Skipjack are commercially
important as the main species of canned tuna. 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
Skipjack tuna are abundant
throughout their range and populations appear healthy. However, bycatch is
a serious issue. Since juvenile yellowfin and bigeye tuna often school with
adult skipjack, they are caught by purse seine vessels that target skipjack.
The skipjack tuna, while quite
resilient, could easily slip into a vulnerable state due tooverfishing if improperly managed.
What WWF is doing
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.
skipjack tuna
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