Albacore vs Tuna: Difference and Comparison

Among all kinds of seafood, fish is most commonly eaten, Fishes are found in various kinds, among which, Tunas are said to be the most eaten commercial fish in the world.

While ordering any dish in a restaurant, we often see Tuna and Albacore on the Fish section of the menu. Albacore is one of the different kinds of tuna. Many people get confused between the two.

Key Takeaways

1. Albacore is a specific species of tuna known for its mild flavor and light color.
2. Albacore is often canned as “white meat tuna” and costs more than other tuna species.
3. Both albacore and other tuna species are popular seafood choices, but albacore’s unique characteristics make it stand out.

Albacore vs Tuna

Albacore, also known as white tuna, is a species of tuna that is found in temperate waters around the world and is known for its mild flavour and firm, pink flesh. Tuna is a larger and more diverse group of fish that includes several different species such as bluefin, yellowfin, and skipjack.

Albacore also called longfin tuna, is the only kind of tuna that has white meat, This makes it more expensive than any other tuna on the market.

The silvery-white fish can be a maximum of 1.4 meters in length. Albacore is rich in protein and vitamins. Due to its large consumption, it was tagged as nearly threatened by International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Tuna, a kind of saltwater fish, you can call it the cheetah of the aquatic world because of its speed. Tunas are structured to swim fast.

It comes from the “Thunnini” tribe, having almost fifteen species among five genres. Tuna is consumed widely as canned tuna, that is in brine, water, or different kinds of sauces.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Albacore	Tuna
Average Length	Albacore fishes are found at an average length of four feet.	The length of tuna fishes is found in great variations, that is from fourteen feet to three feet.
Scientific Name	Scientifically, these fishes are termed “Thunnus alalunga”.	The scientific name of Tuna is “Thunnini”.
Body Structure	Albacores are bullet-shaped fishes, having a fusiform elongated body with largemouths.	These Fishes are streamlined, long, and strong-bodied ones. Found in different lengths and weights.
Rich Source of	Albacores are a rich source of protein, here Omega 3 fatty acids are more than any other tuna fish.	Tuna is a rich source of protein, Iron, Phosphorus, and vitamin D. These contain zero levels of carbohydrate.
IUCN Category	Due to large demand in the commercial market, these are tagged as Nearly threatened by IUCN.	There are Five species out of eight major tunas, which are tagged as nearly threatened or threatened by IUCN.

What is Albacore?

Albacore, also called longfin tuna, is a kind of small-sized tuna fish. These are famously known by the term ‘white meat tuna’ as it is the only tuna fish that has white meat.

These have a blue-colored back and silvery-grey color of belly and sides. Economically these fish have the second-largest market among fish in the world.

Almost all Pacific nations record a major portion of their Gross Domestic Product coming from the albacore market.

Due to their large demand and worldwide consumption, these are on the verge of getting tagged as threatened in the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Currently, it’s tagged as “Nearly Threatened”.

Having a life span of at least eleven to twelve years, Female albacores of twenty kilograms can lay around two to three million eggs at each spawning.

These are hunting predators which sit on top of the food chain, it hunts and eats cephalopods, Dissimilar to other tunas that eat other fishes.

Found in all temperate and tropical waters and the Mediterranean Sea. It can be seen in every restaurant across the globe.

Being a very versatile food, it is made and eaten in different ways. Some delicious albacore fish are mentally cooked albacore steak, spicy albacore curry, etc.

What is Tuna?

Tunas are long, streamlined fishes found in saltwater. It is cosmopolitan, which means it can be found in every part of the world, say in temperate or tropical waters, and also in the Mediterranean Sea. Tuna comes from the “thunnini” tribe.

This tribe consists of fifteen species organized into five genres. These are “Thunnus”, which is true/ original tuna, “Auexis” that is Frigate one, “Allothunnus” which is Slender ones, “Euthynnus”, which is small/little ones, and “Katsuvonus” which is skipjack tuna. These all vary in terms of length, weight, and structure.

Among seven species of true tuna that is “Thunnus” Blackfin is tagged as least concern, Albacore and yellowfin are nearly threatened, Bigeye and pacific bluefin are Vulnerable, Whereas southern bluefin tuna is critically endangered in the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

It is considered a healthy and tasty diet because it is a rich source of protein, iron, phosphorus, and Vitamin D. Commercially talking, United Nations said tunas are the most traded and consumed fish in the world.

Due to its versatile nature, it can be made into many delicious forms. Restaurants everywhere have tuna on their menus in the form of sandwiches, burgers, etc.

Other than for consumption purposes, catching tunas are also seen as a sport by various fishing lovers.

Main Differences Between Albacore and Tuna

1. Both have a streamlined structure, but, What makes albacore distinct from any other tuna is its length, albacore is generally four feet long, whereas Tuna are a family of fishes ranging in length from three feet to fourteen feet in general.
2. Other tuna are not white meated, but Albacore is the only one that has white meat and is famous for it.
3. Scientifically both come from the same tribe as Albacore is one of a tuna kind, albacore is called “Thunnus alalumga”, whereas tuna is called ” thunnini”.
4. Not all Tuna are tagged threatened by IUCN, But albacores with yellowfin tuna are tagged “nearly threatened” in the red list.
5. Albacores are rich in protein and have more Omega 3 fatty acids than any other Tuna. Whereas all tunas are rich in protein, iron, phosphorus, and vitamin D. Also, they have nil carbohydrates.

References

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0198014984900141
2. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1577/T02-094