albacore tuna
North Atlantic Albacore Tuna are large, oceanic fish and are seasonally migratory, some making trans-oceanic journeys. Albacore are landed at Viking Village as a longline product. They are found from the surface to a depth of 600m where they often form mixed schools with skipjack, yellowfin and bluefin tuna.
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One of the smaller commercial tunas, North Atlantic albacore is most recognizable by its elongated pectoral fins, which span 30 percent of its body length.
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•Geographic range: Gulf Stream of western North Atlantic Ocean, extending north into the Grand Banks; the North Atlantic stock is also in eastern Atlantic along Africa/Europe
•Habitat: Found in surface waters but feed throughout water column
•Life span: 9+ years
•Food: Groundfish, pelagic fish, deep-water fish, and invertebrates such as squid
•Growth rate: Rapid; females grow faster than males
•Maximum size: Up to 1,165 pounds
•Reaches reproductive maturity: Between 4 to 5 years in females
•Reproduction: Swordfish spawn numerous times throughout the year. Females produce a highly variable number of eggs: from 1 to 16 million in a 370-pound female to 29 million in a 600-pound female.
•Spawning season: Year-round
•Spawning grounds: Warm tropical and sub-tropical waters
•Migrations: Swordfish annually migrate thousands of miles along the eastern seaboard of the United States and Canada and also in eastern Atlantic along Africa/Europe.
•Predators: Swordfish are top predators, but juvenile swordfish may fall prey to other larger fish.
•Commercial or recreational interest: Both
•Distinguishing characteristics: Swordfish have a long, flattened bill, which is used for slashing and stunning prey. Their color is darkest on top, generally black or brown, and fades to a lighter color below. They have special eye muscles and a heat exchange system, both of which allow them to swim in deep cold water in search of prey. They also have a streamlined body that facilitates swimming at high speeds.
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