At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Fish
- Population trend
- Increasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The southern bluefin tuna is a large, fast, warm-bodied ocean fish prized for sushi and sashimi. It is assessed as Endangered.
Heavy fishing drove a severe decline, with cautious signs of recovery under quotas.
Range & habitat
The temperate and cold open waters of the southern oceans.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Past severe overfishing
- Continued fishing pressure
- Slow maturation
Why it matters
A high-value ocean predator hammered by fishing, the southern bluefin tuna is a key test of whether international quota management can rebuild a depleted fishery.
Sources
Sources for Southern Bluefin Tuna
- IUCN Red List — look up Southern Bluefin Tuna (authoritative status)
- FishBase
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is southern bluefin tuna so heavily fished?
It is highly valued for sushi and sashimi, which drove intense fishing and a severe population decline; international quotas now aim to rebuild the stock.
Why is the southern bluefin tuna Endangered?
Published assessments cite past severe overfishing, continued fishing pressure, and slow maturation that makes recovery gradual. See the IUCN Red List.
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