The Bluefin tuna is coveted for eating and are widely considered a delicacy. They are a fast tuna, are six to ten foot long and swim up to 40 mph in the ocean where they are very adept at deep diving. There is the Southern Bluefin, the Pacific Bluefin, and the biggest of all, the Atlantic Bluefin which is fished from the Mediterranean sea and may exceed 950 lbs each.
Bluefin Choices
The market price for Bluefin tends to vary by vast amounts. Due to their increasing scarcity, costs are likely continue upward.
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- Surprisingly, some Bluefin can reach prices that top $200,000 to over $700,000 and have been known to cross $1 million though these are the exceptions. In 2013, one tuna sold for $1.76 million.
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- Bluefin meat prepared in sushi bars, can cost as much as more than $90 a piece. The fatty portions [ toro (Japanese) or O-toro ] are an endpoint for connoisseurs. If the cuts contain fatty meats such as top loins for sashimi it is more likely $30 to $40 per lb. even for farmed Bluefin, as the threat on the fish continues.
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- Fresh Bluefin prices start at near $12 to $15 a pound at a nearby fish market. Bluefin steaks will normally cost more, with reduced prices for frozen.
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- The rod and reel fisherman often revel in the fact that their prize can fetch $5,000 to $7,000 plus at the market. Though there have been signals of price drops during `013 and `014.
- The market cost for some Bluefin is frequently dictated by the current Japanese supply. Although the fish can be flash-frozen for preservation efforts.
History & Buying Tips
Before the giant Bluefin became a delicacy, it was almost solely a sportfish, being sold for pet food companies or left to waste after the thrill of the catch. Among other factors, developments in refrigeration, the ability to transport catches from one part of the water world to another has facilitated its sought after status. Currently, the Atlantic Bluefin is an endangered fish. In certain waters, like the Black Sea, they have become extinct.
To obtain lower prices more immediately at the local store, if you are not fortunate enough to reside in an area that brings in the fish, such as off the coast of Massachusetts, New England or North Carolina, or portions of the western U.S. coast – buying frozen or waiting until they are in commercial season are the primary options.
For everyone to benefit, and prices to remain reasonable over the longer term, it is important to take part in sustainability efforts that include the prevention of fishing juvenile Bluefins before they can reproduce.