Bluefin Tuna

Did you know that bluefin tuna are so powerful that they can cook themselves? This is part of the reason why bluefin tuna is so expensive. They are endothermic animals. They produce their own body heat, and the stress of being caught on a fishing line can cause them to warm up so much that their insides burn. That's not great news for sushi lovers! 

Fishers must be exceptionally careful when catching bluefin tuna to avoid burn. Their ability to cook themselves is also why the immediate preparation of the tuna is so important to preserving the taste and texture. 

So, after all of that, why is it worth buying and eating giant bluefin tuna? Well, when done correctly, bluefin tuna is one of the most delicious varieties of tuna you could ever eat. There are over 15 varieties of tuna, but bluefin tuna is one of the four main varieties of tuna you'll encounter, especially when talking about sushi or sashimi grade tuna. 

Atlantic bluefin tuna is one of the most sought after and most expensive types of tuna globally. Let's explore giant bluefin tuna a little further, shall we? 

What is Atlantic Bluefin Tuna? 

Atlantic bluefin tuna is one of the largest and most magnificent species of tuna living in our world's oceans. Its muscular build makes it impressively fast and strong under the water. Remember the part where they are so strong that they can overheat and cook themselves? Catching bluefin tuna is exceptionally difficult and takes skill to master. Especially considering how over-stressing the fish can ruin the meat. 

Bluefin tuna boasts a beautiful silver and blue color that makes them blend into their surroundings easily while hunting for prey. Speaking of prey, Atlantic bluefin tuna populations are avid hunters and have been apex predators in the Atlantic and Mediterranean Oceans since ancient times. 

They use their bluefin tuna speed for hunting and eating, helping balance the ocean ecosystems. The bluefin tuna population was on the brink of extinction just a few decades ago. Extinction would be tragic because toro bluefin tuna is a massive part of Mediterranean culture. 

The Atlantic bluefin tuna population is more than recovering thanks to conservation groups and fishing regulations. That's a win for the Mediterranean Sea and a win for sushi lovers globally! 

What is the difference between bluefin tuna and yellowfin tuna?

Bluefin is the most expensive and luxurious tuna available on the market today. If you can't justify the steep price of bluefin tuna, yellowfin is an excellent option. Yellowfin tuna is leaner and lighter in flavor than bluefin tuna. Their fins are what distinguishes them. Yellowfin tuna have yellow-colored fins while bluefin tuna fins are, yup, you guessed it, blue! 

Yellowfin tuna are also significantly smaller than bluefin tuna. 

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Size

What makes the giant bluefin tuna so impressive is how massive they can get. It's not unheard of to catch a bluefin tuna in excess of 500lbs! The biggest bluefin tuna ever caught weighed an impressive 1496 lbs.! Over 40 years ago and it's still the largest bluefin tuna fish to date. 

Despite their massive size, a giant bluefin tuna can accelerate to over 70km/h in short quick bursts. That's especially useful for hunting down their dinner! 

So, what makes them so big? 

Well, for one, being an apex predator pretty much means they have their pick of meals in the ocean. The only creatures that hunt down bluefin tuna are humans and the occasional shark. They are pretty much kind of Mediterranean. But what do bluefin tuna eat? 

You name it! Tuna are at the top of their food chain. They eat: 

• Fish
• Squid
• Crustaceans
• Herring
• Mackerel
• and more!  

Bluefin tuna tend to hunt in groups of 20-30 other fish. This is great when fishing for bluefin tuna but not great for tuna prey. Large groups of giant bluefin tuna keep the smaller fish populations from outgrowing the ecosystem. Bluefin tuna are essential for maintaining the ecosystem, which is why it's so important that we don't overfish bluefin tuna. 

Bluefin tuna season runs from June to November. But that's just when the season is the busiest. Bluefin tuna is available year round. 

Why is bluefin tuna so expensive? 

We touched on this a bit earlier, but let's dive into why bluefin tuna is so expensive. 

For starters, bluefin tuna is recovering from decades of overfishing. To preserve their numbers in the oceans and allow their populations to recover, fishing agencies place strict limits on numbers. Simply put, fishers have to charge more when they are only allowed to catch so many. 

The other thing that makes bluefin tuna so expensive is their biology. Bluefin tuna are so strong and so endothermic that they will literally cook themselves from the inside out while struggling on a fishing line. Catching a large tuna and finding out the bluefin tuna meat is spoiled is not only disappointing but expensive, especially while trying to preserve the bluefin tuna population. 

All of the struggles are worth it for tuna lovers. The meat is a beautiful deep red to purple color. Bluefin tuna also have cuts, including the toro bluefin tuna cut, which is a fattier piece of tuna that simply melts in your mouth with exceptional ease and flavor. The toro cut comes from the bluefin tuna belly. 

 The Atlantic bluefin tuna price reflects all of these factors and the desirability of its tender and succulent eating. The only way to get it any cheaper is to charter a fishing boat and go out and catch it yourself, but unless you enjoy that sort of thing and live on the Atlantic coast, that might not be an option for you. 

The most expensive bluefin tuna ever sold went for a whopping 3.1 million dollars! The Japanese tuna king, Kiyoshi Kimura, paid the hefty price for the world's most expensive tuna at a new year's auction at a brand new fish market. That's some expensive spicy tuna rolls! 

Where to Buy Bluefin Tuna? 

That's where we come in! Thanks to decades of developing relationships with some of the best fishers and fishing families in the world, we are now able to bring you bluefin tuna right here on our online fish market! 

Our toro bluefin tuna steaks come from the Atlantic coast of Spain, one of the world's most crucial tuna fishing grounds. When you order fresh bluefin tuna, your tuna arrives at your door less than 24 hours after leaving the ocean! 

We work with only the highest-quality and skilled fishers to ensure that our tuna is sustainably caught and expertly processed for your enjoyment. 

How to Eat Bluefin Tuna? 

Bluefin tuna is best eaten as sushi or sashimi. The tuna meat is just so delicious on its own. If you want to add some flavor to your tuna, you can try some of these ideas: 

• Bluefin tuna poke bowls
• Bluefin tuna with avocado and cucumber on toast points
• Lightly seared bluefin tuna steaks (we highly recommend eating this rare). 
• Bluefin tuna tartare
• Grilled otoro bluefin tuna (grilled tuna belly) 
• Dry aged bluefin tuna 
• Bluefin tuna bruschetta 
• Bluefin tuna ceviche

No matter how you choose to prepare your tuna, don't be intimidated. The vast majority of these recipes don't even use any heat source! Choose your favorite flavors to marinate your bluefin tuna and enjoy! We promise you won't be disappointed. Bluefin tuna is so mild and delicious. Even seafood newbies will enjoy the succulent taste and texture! 

Bluefin Tuna Nutrition: 

One 3 oz serving of bluefin tuna has 156 calories. The same 3 oz serving has 5.3 grams of fat and a staggering 25 grams of protein. 

Bluefin tuna is slightly higher in fats than other varieties of tuna, but bluefin is relatively low in saturated fat. 

Bluefin Tuna is high in: 

• Vitamin A
• Iron
• Omega-3 fatty acids
• B Vitamins
• Potassium
• Selenium 
• Magnesium
• Vitamin C
• Zinc

Bluefin tuna is low and sodium and is a heart-healthy choice of seafood. As a predatory fish, bluefin tuna does contain mercury, and pregnant women are advised to limit their intake of mercury containing fish. Bluefin tuna is still a healthy choice for most people! 

Ordering from Global Seafoods: 

When you order bluefin tuna from Global Seafoods, you will get your shipping and tracking information with your order. We adhere to strict shipping dates and times to ensure you only receive the very best and freshest seafood possible. 

Our goal is to make the most delicious seafood accessible to anyone, no matter where they live. You can visit our shipping page for more information on our shipping policies. We also offer convenient payment options and even provide a payment plan! 

If you order from our fresh seafood and frozen seafood markets, you will get two different shipping and tracking numbers. Our frozen seafood ships separately from our fresh to ensure we stick to our shipping calendar. 

Don't forget to check out our blog and news section for recipes, meal ideas, and the latest seafood news and information! 

Related Products