Beating the bluefin blues

There is a story of hope for Atlantic bluefin tuna in this week's Washington Post. Scientists who have studied this incredible warm-blooded fish for many years are certain that the science and data they present is enough to convince fisheries managers and their governments to make the changes necessary to halt the severe decline of the species and prevent extinction.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is the only institution in North America to display both yellowfin and Pacific bluefin tuna. This is due to a unique collaboration between the Aquarium and the directly adjacent Hopkins Marine Station, part of Stanford University. This partnership created the "Tuna Research and Conservation Center", which is based in the marine lab. Students collect juvenile tuna from the wild and bring them to the lab where they help scientists understand more about the biology and physiology of these epic migrators. The tuna are then later transported to the Aquarium, where they will roam the warm waters of the 1.2 million gallon Outer Bay exhibit.

The marine station has also pioneered new techniques in fitting satellite tags and tracking devices, greatly assisted by being able to work with the tuna in a captive setting, before heading out to the always unpredictable combination of wild animals in their natural underwater world. To date, over 700 giant bluefin tuna have been tagged in the wild. You can learn more about the Tag-A-Giant program and even sponsor a tag! You can also track tuna and other wildlife at the Tagging of Pacific Predator website.

Once you've been eyeball to eyeball with bluefin tuna, marvelled at their size--as big as a dolphin, and learnt that they too are warm-blooded, it’s hard not to root for them and their battle for survival against the planet's top predator. Let science and common sense prevail, for the good of us all.

Comments

[Alison Barratt]

Thanks for sharing these great historical records. It's amazing to see how big bluefin tuna used to get. I sincerely hope that it's not too late, and that we will see it in all its past ranges again, growing to full maturity.

[fiskeri]

I guess it is a bit too late for the bluefin tuna. The tuna was a common guest in Norwegian waters until the 1970's. It will not come back this decade, but in 40-50 years.. maybe?
Photos of bluefin tuna in Norway can be seen on this post:
http://www.webinntekt.com/blogg/?p=84