| Several species of tuna that are seasonally
common in the waters off New Jersey are very popular with seafood lovers.
The bluefin (Thunnus thynnus). the bigeye (T. obesus) and
the yellowfin (T. albacares) all supply a large, worldwide market
tuna.
Once available in the U.S. only as a canned product, tuna in the last
decade or so has developed a very favorable reputation in domestic markets
as a fresh product, often featured in gourmet restaurants. Bluefin tuna,
of course, is well-known for supplying the premium sushi market in Japan.
All of these tunas are large, highly migratory fish. Individuals have
been known to span an entire ocean in a season. Like the other oceanic
species, little is known of their natural history. |
