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The Albacore Tuna, Thunnus alalunga, is a type of tuna in the family Scombridae. This species is also called albacore fish, albacore tuna, longfin, albies, pigfish, tombo ahi, binnaga, Pacific albacore, German bonito (but see bonito), longfin tuna, longfin tunny, or even just tuna. It is the only tuna species which may be marketed as "white meat tuna" in the United States. Albacore are pelagic fish.

Albacore tuna is a highly migratory finfish species that roams that roams thee waters of the world. It is found in the open waters of all tropical and temperate oceans, and the Mediterranean Sea. Lengths range up to 140 cm and weights up to 45 kg. In Australia albacore tuna are present in east and south Australian waters and from east of Torres Strait to the north west shelf. The distribution of albacore is related to oxygen concentration and water temperature. Whilst albacore feed at the surface, they primarily live at the thermocline, which is the boundary separating warmer surface waters and deeper, cooler waters. Mature albacore travel from temperate waters to the tropics but return to temperate waters after spawning.

Albacore is a prized food, and the albacore fishery is economically significant. Methods of fishing include pole and line, long-line fishing, trolling, and some purse seining. It is also sought after by sport fishers.  "Troll-caught" albacore are tuna between 3 and 5 years old, harvested by trolling jigs behind a slow-moving boat. Commercial fishermen in North America have used this low-impact, environmentally responsible fishing technique to catch albacore for nearly a century now, while albacore fishing fleets from other countries tend to use other fishing methods.

The pectoral fins of the albacore are very long, as much as 50% of the total length. The dorsal spines are 8 to 10 in number, and well forward of the rays of the dorsal fin. The anterior spines are much longer, giving a concave outline to the spiny part of the dorsal fin.

An Albacore's distinct feature is it's very long pectoral fins, usually one third or more of the fork length, and extending past the insertion of the anal fin. 

Other Albacore Tuna Links:

Recipes for Tuna from How To Cook Fish

Exporters of Albacore Tuna
Importers of Albacore Tuna
Processors of Albacore Tuna
Wholesale Suppliers of Albacore Tuna  Seafood Agents for Albacore Tuna
Canned Tuna Buyers & Suppliers

Angling for Albacore:

It is a prized sporting fish which will take small lures and also live bait.      

Albacore are generally caught in waters off New South Wales from September to December and in April and May. Anglers often use trolling methods with artificial lures and live or dead baits to catch albacore

Commercial fishing vessels that harvest younger surface-swimming albacore are called "jig boats" because they fish with jigs. They are also called "trollers" since they "troll" for albacore.

"Trolling" means to catch fish by towing a lure or baited hook behind a slow-moving boat. In the albacore fishery, trollers attach ten to twenty fishing lines to the vessel's outriggers. These fishing lines are of different lengths and are also spread out along each outrigger to help prevent them from getting tangled up with each other.

Attached to the end of each line is a jig -- that is, kind of rubbery fishing lure with a hook in it. Jigs are shaped to look like squid and come in a wide variety of colours. The jigs are trailed in the water behind a moving boat, and some albacore will bite a squid-like jig and get hooked.

Cooking Albacore Tuna:

Albacore has beautiful white flesh, and is delicious to eat., with a delicate taste. Known as "chicken of the sea". Albacore tuna are low in carbohydrates, high in protein and Omega-3 "good" oils.

Most people understand that there is a difference between canned "chunk light" tuna and canned "white meat" albacore tuna, but most people don't realize that not all albacore tuna are the same.

Albacore can differ greatly in taste, quality, and health benefits. This depends both on the size of the albacore, and how it is handled and packaged.

Tuna & Macaroni Salad - Macaroni pasta, canned tuna, mayonnaise, celery, capsicum, fresh dill and Dijon mustard.

Commercial Fishing for Albacore Tuna:

Consumers are increasingly concerned about the sustainability of fisheries. A number of programs have been developed to help consumers identify and support responsible and sustainable fisheries. Perhaps the most widely accepted of these programs is that of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

The Marine Stewardship Council, after extensive review of the best available science, declared the U.S. North and South Pacific albacore pole and line and troll fisheries ("pole and troll") as the only certified sustainable tuna fisheries in the world. However, the MSC is currently (2010) studying the possibility of certifying the Maldives islands pole and line fishery for skipjack, bigeye and yellowfin tunas. Some other artisanal and semi-artisanal pole and line and handline fisheries around the world are also potentially certifiable [2].

U.S. albacore vessels are eligible for the MSC certification through a certification-sharing program administered by the American Albacore Fishing Association.

Products from MSC certified sustainable fisheries are readily identifiable by the MSC's distinctive blue and white "eco-label".

The MSC certification program establishes that the seafood product is traceable to the certified sustainable fishery.

More links about Albacore Tuna and Tuna Information

American Albacore Fishing Association - AAFA is currently the ONLY Pole & Troll MSC Certified Tuna Fishery. AAFA has been awarded the Marine Stewardship Council’s coveted eco-label for sustainable fishing. Products from the AAFA tuna fishery may now carry the Marine Stewardship Council eco-label which will distinguish it as a certified sustainable and well-managed fishery.

Marine Stewardship Council - The MSC's fishery certification program and seafood ecolabel recognise and reward sustainable fishing. We are a global organisation working with fisheries, seafood companies, scientists, conservation groups and the public to promote the best environmental choice in seafood.

WFOA Albacore Tuna Site

American Fishermen's Research Foundation
http://afrf.org/