Diving Deep on Tuna to Uncover Surprising Variety

Southern bluefin tuna being unloaded at Shizuoka Prefecture’s Shimizu Port. (Courtesy of Marushin Shōten)

Northern bluefin tuna can grow up to 4 meters long and weigh in at over 400 kilograms.

Ōma Maguro sushi. At front right is ōtoro fatty tuna, back right is chūtoro medium fatty, and center is akami lean meat. (© Nippon.com)

A fresh caught tuna from Japan’s leading maguro port, Katsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, auctioned off at Toyosu. (Courtesy of Toyosu Market staff.)

Southern bluefin tuna reaches some 2 meters and around 100 kilograms.

A block of meat from southern bluefin tuna being sold at premium prices at a fish shop gearing up for the New Year holiday. (© Pixta)

Unloading frozen tuna at Shimizu Port. If the price of southern bluefin doesn’t rebound, there is a danger that both it and domestic bigeye will see a fall in supply. (© Pixta)

Bigeye tuna can reach up to 2 meters and exceed 120 kilograms.

The often-seen supermarket bargain packs of “maguro odds and ends” are mostly bigeye tuna. (© Pixta)

Bigeye tuna caught in Australia. (Courtesy of Toyosu Market staff)

Yellowfin tuna, marked predictably by yellow coloration on their fins, can grow to nearly 2 meters and weigh between 70 and 80 kilograms.

The albacore tuna, with its long pectoral fins, grows to just over 1 meter and usually weighs in at around 40 kilograms.

Albacore sashimi has a delicate pink color. (© Pixta)