The countries that produce the most in tuna fishing yield are Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines. Thailand is now the site of the majority of the world's tuna processing plants, processing approximately 25% of the world's canned tuna.
However, despite being the world's largest tuna producer, Indonesia doesn't manufacture the most canned tuna. That title goes to Thai Union in Thailand. As the world's biggest producer of canned tuna, Thai Union sources its fish from across the globe, though Indonesia is one of its primary import sources.
But it's not just the dining delight that makes this tuna varietal so prized. Southern Bluefin Tuna has become an increasingly valuable commodity because of its limited availability.
United States. The U.S. is the world's largest single market for canned seafood, especially tuna. Despite modest per capita consumption (1.2–1.6 kg per year), the country's large population drives enormous demand.
In terms of global ranking, the top 5 canned tuna exporters in 2023 were Thailand (US$2.08 billion), Ecuador (US$1.188 billion), China (US$832.24 million), Spain (US$792.49 million) and Netherlands (US$$313.75 million).
Among these seemingly endless options, one of the simpler yet reliably delicious seafood offerings is its Kirkland canned albacore tuna. The real company behind Costco's supply is a big industry name: Bumble Bee Food.
Massive bluefin tuna fetches record $3.2 million at Tokyo auction. A massive 535-pound bluefin tuna sold for a record 510 million yen ($3.2 million) at the first auction of 2026 at Tokyo's Toyosu fish market. The top bidder for the prized tuna at the predawn auction on Monday was Kiyomura Corp.
The 600-plus-pound tuna went to Onodera Group, a Japanese company that runs sushi restaurants and businesses in other sectors, according to a translated press release. A staggering $1.3 million (207 million yen) bid landed the company the massive bluefin tuna.
Atlantic bluefin tuna reach maturity relatively quickly. In a survey that included specimens up to 2.55 m (8.4 ft) in length and 247 kg (545 lb) in weight, none was believed to be older than 15 years. However, very large specimens may be up to 50 years old.
Fish that's consumed raw in sushi must be frozen to -20°C (-4°F) for 7 days or -35°C (-31°F) for 15 hours. This process will destroy any parasite in the fish making it safer to consume but there's still risk.
This is because most fish is processed in the can from raw, whereas tuna is cooked prior to canning. This significantly reduces the levels of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Nevertheless, canned tuna is still a healthy high protein food and has the advantage of being relatively inexpensive and convenient.
Bluefins are widely regarded as the Kings of the Tuna family, and rightfully so. Thanks to a number of physical attributes, Bluefins boast a richness of flavor you just won't find in another fish. Bluefin Tuna are almost exclusively found in the form of sashimi.
Although most of the salmon eaten in the US today is imported from other countries, salmon is the most commonly eaten fish in the US and the #2 seafood behind shrimp. How much salmon do we eat each year? The average American eats 3.2 pounds, about 15 servings, of salmon every year.
How Does a Bluefin Tuna Command $3.2 Million? The Answer Begins in the Waters Off Oma. Caught off Honshu's northernmost tip, the 535-pound bluefin was brought to Toyosu Market's New Year auction, where Sushi Zanmai owner Kiyoshi Kimura claimed it with the morning's top bid.
Atlantic bluefin tuna can reach 10 feet in length and 1,000 pounds. Most adults are around 200 pounds at 10 years of age. They are a deep blue on the dorsals with a silvery belly. White-grey spots can appear on the belly.
The largest tuna ever caught was an Atlantic Bluefin tuna. This massive fish was caught off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, by Ken Fraser in 1979. It weighed an astonishing 1,496 pounds (approximately 679 kilograms).
Expensive tuna usually comes from the hard-to-find Gold of The Sea, bluefin tuna fish. While the skipjack takes up to two years to mature, bluefin can take anywhere from eight to ten years- which is a long time to wait to harvest a fish. All in all, the bigger fish is a delicacy that's far too scarce to eat every day.
Only vessels holding an annually-issued Federal permit to fish commercially for Atlantic bluefin, bigeye, yellowfin and albacore tuna are legally allowed to sell their catch. By law, all commercially-caught catch can only be sold to a U.S. federally-licensed fish dealer.
What is the most money ever paid for a bluefin tuna?
A Japanese billionaire made headlines by setting a world record, paying an astonishing $3.1 million for a single bluefin tuna at Tokyo's famous Tsukiji Fish Market. This enormous price tag reflects both the scarcity and prestige of high-quality bluefin, considered a luxury delicacy in Japan's sushi culture.
Last month we saw the first fully licenced bluefin tuna caught on a commercial vessel in Newlyn. The landed fish weighed in at 245 kg and made a sale price of over £14 per kilo a whopping total of over £3400! However, tuna catching is highly regulated, and rightly so.
