The Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Tuna Research and Conservation Center—neighbors in Pacific Grove, California—are cooperating on a wide range of research initiatives to learn more about bluefin tuna and help inform conservation efforts for this iconic species.
Tuna are challenging to display and research because of their incredible size, strength and speed. We’re pioneering techniques for collecting, handling, transporting, caring for and displaying tuna. At any given time dozens of tunas representing three species are swimming in the tanks at the Aquarium and TRCC. Captive tuna allow biologists and aquarists to improve husbandry and veterinary techniques, learn from these amazing animals and develop electronic tagging techniques prior to use in the field.
Tunas are remarkable athletes. They travel vast distances at amazing speeds, made possible by unique adaptations. In recent years researchers have studied the cardiac physiology of tunas to understand exactly how these extraordinary hearts deliver this performance over a range of temperatures, providing clues about why bluefin tuna routinely migrate and dive into much colder waters than yellowfin tuna.
Gene Expression Research
Recently, researchers have used gene markers to help assess the condition of captive tuna in response to tank size, feeding and longevity in captivity. This leads to better techniques for assessing the quality and condition of captive tuna. Gene markers can also provide information on the growth, health and vigor of cultivated tuna stocks, promising breakthroughs for health and reproduction.
TRCC uses a "respirometer" to study the metabolic rate of tunas under different, controlled conditions, providing information on how efficiently they swim at different speeds and temperatures.
The “Tag-A-Giant” program uses electronic tags to tell exciting new stories about the life history and biology of Atlantic bluefin tuna—providing knowledge that can help regulators better manage fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.