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Life Story
Although
Atlantic Bluefin have a wide habitat range, they spawn in only two locations. One group spawns
in the Gulf of Mexico, while another travels to the Mediterranean.
Spawning in the Gulf of Mexico occurs from mid-April to mid-June,
and during this time females can release up to 30 million eggs.
Males release their sperm at the same time the females release their
eggs, resulting in mating between many different individuals at one
time. The most concentrated spawning occurs in the northern
part of the gulf, but some spawning occurs along the coast of Texas
and Florida.
Spawning in the Mediterranean occurs from June through
August. The most concentrated spawning area occurs around
southern Italy. The differences in spawning time could be due
to environmental cues. Spawning in the Gulf of Mexico occurs when
the water is between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas spawning
in the Mediterranean takes place when the water is between 65 and 70
degrees Fahrenheit.
The larvae are about 3mm when they hatch and they grow
at a rate of about 1mm per day after that. As they grow, they
will eventually break up into schools based on size. Female Bluefins reach sexual maturity at about 3-5 years old. They
will spawn in the same location that they hatched. For
example, if the tuna hatched in the Mediterranean, it would return
to the Mediterranean to spawn. The average lifetime is about
15 years, but some have been known to survive to be 20-30 years old.