Editing Albacore (section)

{{Short description|Species of tuna}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Albacore
| image = Thunnus alalunga 2.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Collette, B.B. |author2=Boustany, A. |author3=Fox, W. |author4=Graves, J. |author5=Juan Jorda, M. |author6=Restrepo, V. |date=2021 |title=''Thunnus alalunga'' |volume=2021 |page=e.T21856A46911332 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T21856A46911332.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
| parent = Thunnus (Thunnus)
| taxon = Thunnus alalunga
| authority = ([[Pierre Joseph Bonnaterre|Bonnaterre]], 1788)
| synonyms = *''Scomber alalunga'' <small>Bonnaterre, 1788</small> 
*''Germo alalunga'' <small>(Bonnaterre, 1788)</small> 
*''Thynnus alalunga'' <small>(Bonnaterre, 1788)</small>
*''Scomber alalunga'' <small>[[Francesco Cetti|Cetti]], 1777</small> 
*''Thunnus alalunga'' <small>(Cetti, 1777)</small> 
*''Scomber alatunga'' <small>[[Johann Friedrich Gmelin|Gmelin]], 1789</small> 
*''Orcynus alatunga'' <small>(Gmelin, 1789)</small> 
*''Scomber albicans'' <small>[[Johann Julius Walbaum|Walbaum]], 1792</small> 
*''Scomber germon'' <small>[[Bernard Germain de Lacépède|Lacepède]], 1800</small> 
*''Germo germon'' <small>(Lacepède, 1800)</small> 
*''Orcynus germon'' <small>(Lacepède, 1800)</small>  
*''Orcynus germo'' <small>(Lacepède, 1800)</small>  
*''Scomber germo'' <small>Lacepède, 1801</small> 
*''Germo germo'' <small>(Lacepède, 1800)</small>  
*''Thunnus germo'' <small>(Lacepède, 1800)</small>  
*''Thynnus pacificus'' <small>[[Georges Cuvier|Cuvier]], 1832</small> 
*''Thunnus pacificus'' <small>(Cuvier, 1832)</small> 
*''Scomber germo'' <small>[[Frederick Debell Bennett|Bennett]], 1840</small> 
*''Orcynus pacificus'' <small>[[James Graham Cooper|Cooper]], 1863</small>   
| synonyms_ref = <ref name=itis>{{ITIS |taxon=''Thunnus alalunga'' |id=172419 |access-date=9 December 2012}}</ref><ref name = iucn_old>{{cite iucn | author1 = Collette, B. | author2 = Acero, A. | author3 = Amorim, A.F. | author4 = Boustany, A. | author5 = Canales Ramirez, C. | author6 = Cardenas, G. | author7 = Carpenter, K.E. | author8 = Chang, S.-K. | author9 = de Oliveira Leite Jr., N. | author10 = Di Natale, A. | author11 = Die, D. | author12 = Fox, W. | author13 = Fredou, F.L. | author14 = Graves, J. | author15 = Guzman-Mora, A. | author16 = Viera Hazin, F.H. | author17 = Hinton, M. | author18 = Juan Jorda, M. | author19 = Minte Vera, C. | author20 = Miyabe, N. | author21 = Montano Cruz, R. | author22 = Masuti, E. | author23 = Nelson, R. | author24 = Oxenford, H. | author25 = Restrepo, V. | author26 = Salas, E. | author27 = Schaefer, K. | author28 = Schratwieser, J. | author29 = Serra, R. | author30 = Sun, C. | author31 = Teixeira Lessa, R.P. | author32 = Pires Ferreira Travassos, P.E. | author33 = Uozumi, Y.  | author34 = Yanez, E. | display-authors = 3 | year = 2011 | title = ''Thunnus alalunga'' | volume = 2011 | page = e.T21856A9325450 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T21856A9325450.en }}</ref><ref name=fishbase/>
}}

The '''albacore''' ('''''Thunnus alalunga'''''), known also as the '''longfin tuna''', is a species of [[tuna]] of the order [[Scombriformes]]. It is found in [[temperate]] and [[tropical]] waters across the globe in the [[epipelagic]] and [[mesopelagic]] zones. There are six distinct stocks known globally in the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]], [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]], and [[Indian Ocean|Indian]] oceans, as well as the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. The albacore has an elongate, [[wikt:fusiform|fusiform]] body with a conical snout, large eyes, and remarkably long [[pectoral fins]]. Its body is a deep blue [[dorsally]] and shades of silvery white [[ventral]]ly. Individuals can reach up to {{convert|1.4|m|ftin|abbr=on}} in length.

Albacore are [[pelagic]] predators that eat a wide variety of foods, including but not limited to [[fish]], [[crustacean]]s, and [[cephalopod]]s. They are unique among tuna in that their primary food source is cephalopods, with fish making up a much smaller portion of their diet. Reproduction usually occurs from November to February and is [[oviparous]]. An adult female can release over two million eggs in a single cycle. Fry (juvenile fish) generally stay near where they were spawned for about a year before moving on. Albacore form schools based on their stage in the life cycle, but also combine with other tuna like the [[skipjack tuna]], [[yellowfin tuna]], and [[bluefin tuna]]. Once grown, schools are highly migratory.

The albacore is a very economically important fish and is a target of [[Commercial fishing|commercial]] and [[Recreational fishing|recreational]] fisheries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fisheries |first=NOAA |date=2025-04-03 |title=Pacific Albacore Tuna {{!}} NOAA Fisheries |url=https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/pacific-albacore-tuna |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=NOAA |language=en}}</ref> It was originally the basis for the United States tuna-canning industry and is no less important today, making up significant percentages of the [[gross domestic product]]s of various Pacific nations. It was listed as [[Near Threatened]] by the [[International Union for Conservation of Nature]] (IUCN) because of the threat of overfishing but is now [[Least Concern]] again.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iucn.org/news/species/202109/tuna-species-recovering-despite-growing-pressures-marine-life-iucn-red-list|title = Tuna species recovering despite growing pressures on marine life - IUCN Red List|date = 4 September 2021}}</ref> Several stocks were in significant decline but are now recovering thanks to the enforcement of regional fishing quotas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fisheries |first=NOAA |date=2024-09-19 |title=Adjustments to the 2024 North Atlantic Albacore Tuna, North and South Atlantic Swordfish, and Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Reserve Category Quotas {{!}} NOAA Fisheries |url=https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/adjustments-2024-north-atlantic-albacore-tuna-north-and-south-atlantic-swordfish-and |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=NOAA |language=en}}</ref>