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Albacore Facts

Albacore Facts
Albacore is a species of tuna that belongs to the mackerel family. It can be found in temperate and tropical oceans around the world. Young albacores live near the surface of the water, while adults spend their life on a depth of around 1.250 feet. Albacore, also known as the "chicken of the sea", is popular and highly prized because of its white meat. Populations of albacores from the northern hemisphere are not recommended for human diet due to increased level of mercury (toxic metal which fish absorbs from the polluted water) in their meat. Albacore is classified as near threatened due to uncontrolled commercial and recreational fishing of this species.
Interesting Albacore Facts:
Albacore can reach 47 inches in length and 80 pounds of weight. Males are larger than females.
Dorsal side of the body is dark blue and shiny. Lateral sides of the body and belly are silvery white colored. Dorsal fins are yellow colored (first dorsal fin is intensely yellow, second dorsal fin pale yellow).
Albacore has torpedo-shaped body, smooth skin, long, pointed pectoral fins and crescent-shaped tail.
Albacore is a carnivore (meat-eater). Its diet is based on sardines, anchovies, pilchards, crustaceans and squids. Albacore has high metabolic rate and it needs to eat 1/4 of its own body weight each day to meet its energetic needs.
Albacores live in large schools that can be 19 miles wide. Schools are often composed of more than one tune species.
Albacore is migratory species. It travels large distances each year to find best areas for spawning and ones that provide enough food.
Even though albacore belongs to the group of cold-blooded creatures, its body temperature is higher than the temperature of water thanks to specifically designed circulatory system. This anatomical feature ensures great mobility of the body.
Albacore is able to swim at the speed of 50 miles per hour.
Albacore needs to swim constantly to ensure proper breathing. While it swims with open mouth, it ingests water rich in oxygen that travels to the gills.
Natural enemies of albacores are billfish, sharks and large species of tuna.
Mating season of albacores takes place in tropical and subtropical waters during the summer.
Fertilization of eggs takes place in the open sea (males and females release sperm cells and eggs directly into the water). Female is able to produce 2 to 3 million eggs per season which are usually released in two separate sets (second set is released two days after the first set).
Eggs of albacore are covered with oily substance which provides buoyancy. Fish hatch from the eggs 48 hours after fertilization.
Albacores reach sexual maturity at the age of 4 to 5 years, at the length of 35 to 37 inches.
Albacore can survive 10 to 12 years in the wild.


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