Bluefin tuna is a much-coveted fish in the fishing industry due to its high demand in high-end restaurants, most sushi restaurants.
The highest amount of money ever paid in the fishing world was for a 612-pound bluefin tuna. And the amount was $3.1 million! Yes, you have read it correctly, $3.1 million for a 612-pound fish.
Now, this might be a single event at a single auction but do not assume that bluefin tuna comes cheap. Due to its high demand and comparatively low supply, it has been dubbed the most expensive edible fish.
In terms of flavor profile, bluefin tuna has the fattiest and darkest flesh of all tuna, containing a distinctive medium-full flavor and firm, “meaty” texture with large flakes. It is best served as rare, medium-rare, or as sushi, but never to be served over-cooked!
The natural habitat of Bluefin Tuna
Depending on where a Bluefin Tuna is born, it is divided into two groups- Pacific bluefin tuna and Atlantic bluefin tuna. North Pacific is the primary habitat of pacific bluefin tuna which ranges from the East Asian coast to the western coast of North America.
They usually spawn in the northwestern Philippines Sea and the Sea of Japan. While some of them migrate to the East Pacific, they are recorded to return after a few years to their spawning waters. On the other hand, Atlantic bluefin tunas are found in both easter and western Atlantic oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. They can no longer be found in the Black Sea where they used to live due to extinction.
Being one of the highly overfished species in their respective areas, legal licensing is required to catch them and there is a limit to how many you can catch per day to avoid overfishing. With a high demand but limited supply, the price of bluefin tuna becomes very expensive. As a result, whereas common tuna-like albacore costs about $3-4/pound, bluefin tuna costs $10-20/ounce.
How much do they weigh and what do they cost?
When it comes to size and weight, bluefin tuna is definitely a winner. It is one of the largest edible fish in the world and currently ranks as the fifth heaviest fish ever caught, weighing 1496 lb ( approx. 679 kg). An average bluefin tuna is 2-2.5m (6.6-8.2 ft) in height and weighs around 225-250 kg (500-550 lb).
When it comes to price, bluefish tuna is the most expensive edible fish in the world. In 2019, a 612-pound bluefin tuna was sold for a record $3.1 million. An average one can cost from $10-$20 a pound.
But the highest quality of bluefin tuna comes from Japan which can cost you about $200 a pound if imported. One of the main reasons behind its high price is supply and demand.
There is a very high demand for bluefin tuna in high-quality sushi restaurants thus making them overfished. But they have a comparatively slower reproduction rate which is making them harder to obtain and increasing their price with the passing of time.
Another reason behind its high price is that most renowned chefs prefer their bluefin tuna from Japan. In Japan, the fish goes through more stages than usual before hitting the market and instead of being sold like regular fishes, bluefin tunas are auctioned off.
These factors increase the price of fish significantly. And on top of that, there is the added cost of storage and transportation.
The main reason why Japanese bluefin tuna is so coveted is because of the delicate way it is processed and butchered in Japan. But even if you buy bluefin tuna from a source outside Japan, it certainly won’t come cheap.
Where can you get the best Bluefin Tuna from?
There are many Atlantic and Pacific regions from where you can get bluefin tuna. In the USA you can get it from different states such as Boston, California, etc. While the highest amount of tuna is caught in California, tuna caught in Boston is considered to be best during summer and fall. But if you are looking for the finest quality of bluefin tuna, Oma in Japan is the place to look for.
Whereas a Boston bluefin goes through 3 steps before reaching our door, a Japanese bluefin goes through 5. This ensures the optimum quality of Tuna and increases the price.
In Japan, fishes like bluefin tuna are auctioned off rather than being sold in a regular market. Depending on the time of year and other factors, they are auctioned off at a higher price than they might have been sold in a market.
The Japanese have mastered the art of butchering a bluefin tuna-like none around the world. This means the pieces you buy from Japan are cut with the best care. But all these qualities of Japan certainly do not come cheap. As a result, the Japanese bluefin tuna costs more than it would have in other markets.
Danger! Are Bluefin Tunas going extinct?
Due to high demand, bluefin tuna are overfished all around the world. Though there are many regulations, required licensing and daily limits to catching tuna, the black market for bluefin tuna is still very active.
Their reproduction rate is significantly lower than the rate they are being caught, which is making them an endangered species.
According to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), the Pacific bluefin is listed as near threatened, and the Atlantic bluefin which was announced as endangered in 2011 made to least concerned after a 22% population increase over the last four decades. The southern bluefin tuna has been downgraded from critically endangered to endangered in 2021.
To conserve bluefin tuna, only particular fishermen are licensed to catch them and there is a limit to how much you can catch per day. As a result, the limited amount of bluefin caught becomes in high demand and is sold at very high prices in the fish market or auctioned off at even higher prices in the case of Japan.
Conclusion
Due to its high demand, the bluefin tuna has made it to the top as the most expensive edible fish in the world. Due to its premium quality flesh, it is coveted by all the sushi chefs and those who specialize in fish culinary.
Though the Japanese bluefin is unparalleled in its quality, there is no harm in buying it from other regions if you are short on budget, if you are a fish culinary or a sushi enthusiast, you have to put bluefin tuna items on top of your list.