alalunga

Alalunga, commonly known as albacore, is a species of tuna in the family Scombridae, scientifically named Thunnus alalunga. It has a slender, elongated body and very long pectoral fins, which give it a distinctive profile among tunas. The upper body is dark blue to gray, fading to a pale silver or white underside. Individuals can reach up to about 1.8 meters in length and weigh as much as about 60 kilograms.

Albacore occupies warm temperate and tropical oceans worldwide and is a highly migratory, pelagic species. It forms large, fast-swimming schools and moves between feeding grounds and warmer spawning areas, with migrations that vary by season and region. Its distribution includes the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.

Diet consists mainly of small fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Spawning occurs in warm waters, with maturity developing after several years depending on region. The species is commercially important and supports large-scale fisheries, particularly for canning, as well as fresh and frozen markets. Principal gear types include longlines and purse seines, with catches subject to regional and international management to maintain stock health. Bycatch, habitat impacts, and fisheries-management compliance are ongoing concerns in some fisheries.

In culinary uses, albacore flesh is pale and firms well for canning and grilling; it is commonly marketed as “white tuna.” In Italian, alalunga is the term for this species, and it is often referenced in markets and cuisine under that name.