The ATUNSA fleet

The ATUNSA fleet carries out responsible and environmentally friendly fishing, aimed at preserving the resource in order to continue supplying tuna caught in a sustainable manner.

As European operators, our activity is regulated by European Union fishing regulations, the most advanced in environmental and sustainability matters, with which we scrupulously comply.

ATUNSA also complies with all the Recommendations and Resolutions of ICCAT and IOTC – the Regional Fisheries Management Organisations of the oceans in which our fleet fishes – which are adopted following the advice of their respective scientific committees.

ATUNSA also actively participates in multiple projects in collaboration with AZTI and the Spanish Oceanographic Institute (IEO).

Activity

Yellowfin

YFT

YELLOWFIN

  • Species: Yellowfin (YFT)
  • Scientific name: Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre 1788)
  • Classification: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Scombridae (Mackerels, tunas, bonitos) > Scombrinae
  • Distribution area: Worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas (Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans), but absent from the Mediterranean Sea.
  • Habitat: Highly migratory species. An oceanic species occurring above and below the thermoclines. Pelagic in open water, but rarely seen near reefs. They school primarily by size, either in monospecific or multi-species groups in surface (the younger ones) and deeper (the older ones). Larger fish frequently school with porpoises, also associated with floating debris and other objects. It is sensitive to low concentrations of oxygen and therefore is not usually caught below 250 m. in the tropics.
  • Temperature: 15-31ºC (Tropical)
  • Maximum length: 280cm, common length till 150 cm
  • Maximum weight: 200kg
  • Maximum reported age: 8 years.
  • Predators: another fishes (tuna fish included) and sharks.
  • Feeding: Feed on fishes, crustaceans and squids.
  • Reproduction: Peak spawning occurs during the summer
  • Eggs and larvae: Eggs and larvae are pelagic

Management

Skipjack

SKJ

SKIPJACK

  • Species: Skipjack (SKJ)
  • Scientific name: Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus 1758)
  • Classification: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Scombridae (Mackerels, tunas, bonitos) > Scombrinae
  • Distribution area: cosmopolitan in tropical and warm temperate waters. Not found in the Eastern Mediterranean sea.
  • Habitat: Highly migratory species. Exhibit a strong tendency to school in surface waters with birds, drifting objects, sharks, whales and may show a characteristic behavior like jumping, feeding, foaming, etc.
  • Depth Range: 0 – 260 m
  • Temperature: 15-30ºC
  • Maximum length: 108 cm, common length till 80 cm
  • Maximum weight: 35 kg.
  • Maximum reported age: 12 years
  • Predators: Sharks, Swordfish, other fishes, tuna fishes and birds.
  • Feeding: Feed on fishes, crustaceans, cephalopods and mollusks; cannibalism is common.
  • Breeding: Spawn throughout the year in the tropics, eggs released in several portions.
  • Eggs and larvaes: pelagic

Management

Big Eye

BET

BIG EYE

  • Species: Big Eye (BET)
  • Scientific name: Thunnus obesus (Lowe 1839)
  • Classification: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Scombridae (Mackerels, tunas, bonitos) > Scombrinae
  • Distribution area: Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: in tropical and subtropical waters. Absent in the Mediterranean.
  • Habitat: pelagic and highly migratory species. Variation in occurrence is closely related to seasonal and climatic changes in surface temperature and thermocline. Juveniles and small adults school at the surface in mono-species groups or mixed with other tunas, may be associated with floating objects. Adults stay in deeper waters.
  • Temperature: Occur in areas where water temperatures range from 13°-29°C, but the optimum is between 17° and 22°C.
  • Maximum length: 250 cm., Common length: 180 cm.
  • Maximum weight: 210 kg.
  • Maximum reported age: 11years.
  • Predators: whales, sharks, other tuna fishes.
  • Feeding: Feed on a wide variety of fishes, cephalopods and crustaceans during the day and at night.
  • Reproduction: Multiple spawners that may spawn every 1 or 2 days over several months. Preferably they spawn between 10º N and 10º S and during April to September.
  • Eggs and larvae: Pelagic.

Management

Albacore

ALB

ALBACORE

  • Species: Albacore (ALB)
  • Scientific name: Thunnus alalunga (Bonnaterre, 1788)
  • Classification: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Scombridae (Mackerels, tunas, bonitos) > Scombrinae
  • Distribution area: Cosmopolitan in tropical and temperate waters of all oceans including the Mediterranean Sea.
  • Habitat: Highly migratory species. An epipelagic and mesopelagic, oceanic species, abundant in surface waters. Schools may be associated with floating objects, whales, sharks, …
  • Temperature: 10-25ºC.
  • Maximum length: 140cm, common length: 100cm
  • Maximum weight: 60kg
  • Maximum reported age: 9 years.
  • Predators: whales, sharks, swordfish, another tuna fishes and sea birds.
  • Feeding: Feed on fishes, cephalopods, crustaceans and squids.
  • Reproduction: Multiple spawners, females spawn almost every day in tropical seas. In temperate waters, this period goes from spring to autumn. Sexual maturity reached at 90cm.
  • Eggs and larvae: Pelagic.

Management

Menu