All speciesRecovery story

Southern Bluefin Tuna

Once depleted, now rebuilding under the world's most rigorous international quota. Wild-caught in the Great Australian Bight and ranched in Port Lincoln.

Thunnus maccoyii
Flavour: Deep, beefy, melting fat — the world's premium sashimi tuna

Four reasons to choose local

Health

  • Lower mercury — ranched fish are juveniles fed clean sardines
  • Rich in omega-3 and selenium
  • Tight food-safety surveillance via FSANZ

Economy

  • Port Lincoln industry is SA's largest export contributor
  • Tunarama Festival — cultural anchor of the region
  • Premium export prices (Japan) fund local infrastructure

Environment

  • CCSBT international quota — among the world's most rigorous
  • Stock formally classified as recovering
  • Ranching uses no industrial feed pellets — only sardines

Taste

  • Global gold standard for sashimi-grade tuna
  • Belly (otoro) is a rare delicacy
  • Ranched fattening period produces unmatched marbling

Sourcing

Southern Bluefin Tuna is exclusively wild-caught.

Where it comes from

Southern Bluefin Tuna is most strongly associated with these 3 Australian regions:

Nutrition (per 100g)

How Southern Bluefin Tuna compares to imported equivalents on the headline nutrients consumers care about.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids1800mg1200mg
Protein25.4g23.6g
Vitamin D6.8µg4.3µg
Selenium90µg70µg
Vitamin B129.4µg7.1µg

Seasonality

When to enjoy Southern Bluefin Tuna at its peak.

Janpeak
Febpeak
Margood
Aprgood
Maygood
Junavailable
Julavailable
Augavailable
Sepavailable
Octavailable
Novgood
Decpeak
Peak Good Available Off-season

How to cook it

Four go-to preparations for Southern Bluefin Tuna that respect the fish — short cooks, clean flavours, no over-doing it.

Sashimi

Slice akami (lean) thin against the grain. Soy + wasabi only.

Sear (tataki)

Crust with sesame, sear 30 sec each side, slice and dress with ponzu.

Tartare

Hand-dice, dress with shallot, capers, lemon, olive oil.

Ceviche

Cube, marinate in lime + chilli + coriander 5 min before serving.

Australian vs imported — at a glance

Wild & ranched Southern Bluefin from the Bight vs imported Yellowfin and Bigeye from various Pacific and Indian Ocean fleets.

Australia
Southern Bluefin Tuna
Southern Ocean
🇦🇺 Local
Omega-3 (per 100g)1,800mg
Mercury LevelLow-Moderate
Quota ManagementCCSBT regulated
Fishing MethodPole & line / ranching
Bycatch RateVery Low
Product TraceabilityVessel to plate
Price per 100g~$6.00
Overall rating: Australian tuna scores 8.7/10 — world-leading quota management ensures stock health.
vs
Various
Imported Tuna
Pacific / Indian Ocean
Omega-3 (per 100g)1,200mg
Mercury LevelModerate-High
Quota ManagementVariable
Fishing MethodOften long-line
Bycatch RateOften High
Product TraceabilityLimited
Price per 100g~$2.80
Overall rating: Imported tuna scores 5.5/10 — sustainability and mercury levels are major concerns.

Read the full comparison →

The risks of the imported version

Typically imported from: Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean (Yellowfin / Bigeye)

  • Mercury accumulation in older, larger imported tuna
  • Long-line bycatch — turtles, sharks, seabirds
  • Seafood mislabelling rates highest for tuna products
  • Traceability often lost at multiple supply-chain handoffs

See the full case against imported seafood →

How to buy it

🔍
Look for:

Specify "Southern Bluefin Tuna" or "Yellowfin Tuna" — origin, species, and grade matter for sashimi.

From 1 July 2026, every restaurant menu in Australia must show A (Australian), I (Imported), or M (Mixed) for each seafood dish. Read the law →

Sources for this page

  1. Status of Australian Fish Stocks Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (2024)
  2. FSANZ mercury in fish guidance Food Standards Australia New Zealand (2024)
  3. Oceana global mislabelling meta-analysis Oceana (2021)