Tuna

Atlantic Bluefin tuna is the main species of tuna found in the Mediterranean sea, and with that, in the Adriatic. With the oldest specimens being more than 50 years old and weighing more than 300 kg, this fish is one of the greatest predators who dwell in this part of the ocean.

Their body is one of an elite killer; it’s aerodynamic, muscular, and slick, which enables the tuna to move quickly through the water while making an attack on its prey. Short retractable pectoral fins distinguish the Bluefin tuna from other tuna families. Adding to the speed is the perfect eyesight, which is thought to be the sharpest of all bony fish. One of the highest concentrations of blood hemoglobin amongst fish also helps the bluefin tuna to catch their prey, by enabling them to store more oxygen.

Food:
Smaller tuna mostly eat crustaceans, squid, and small fish, while the larger species mostly attack the shoals of fish such as mackerel and other bluefish. There are no reports of tuna ever attacking a larger species and there have been no attacks on a human.

Living territory:
Atlantic bluefin tuna inhabits the whole mediterranean sea with the exception of the Black sea, where it went extinct. The warm water pockets formed by Italy and the Balkan countries that border the Adriatic sea are a perfect spot for tuna to live and reproduce. No strong currents, mild climate, and a sea rich with fish are the reasons the population of tuna is flourishing. Their population is especially large around Croatian islands.

See the best time to catch a tuna