Consumption of this species is considered unsustainable, as this species is considered Endangered in the Mediterranean area due to the high fishing pressure.

Heavy metal accumulation detected, especially in the liver and muscle tissue.

Large streamline fish, up to 300 cm in length. The body is deepest near the middle of the first dorsal fin. The second dorsal fin is higher than the first. The pectoral fins are very short, less than 80% of head length. The tail is crescent shaped. Lower sides and ventral area are silvery white with colorless transverse lines alternated with rows of colorless dots. Dark blue dorsal colouring. Looks like: Longtail tuna (Thunnus tonggol), which is sometimes called the northern bluefin tuna in Australia, and other tuna-like species like the kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis) and frigate tuna (Auxis thazard).

Bluefin tuna are the largest of the tuna family, weighing up to 678 kg, living up to 40 years, and are capable of diving deeper than 900 meters!