What types of tuna live in the Mediterranean Sea
Tuna is one of the most interesting inhabitants of the Mediterranean Sea, as well as a prized ingredient in numerous culinary preparations.
It is a specimen of which practically everything is used, as each part is suitable for high-quality recipes.
Especially bluefin tuna is considered the most refined variety used in the gastronomic sector, thanks to the particular type of its cut (strollo).
In the Mediterranean Sea, there are different types of tuna, which are:
• white tuna,
also known as "long fin" has its natural habitat in the Pacific Ocean but is also found in the seas surrounding our peninsula.
Its name "long fin" derives from the particular length of its saber-shaped pectoral fins, which, together with the white color of its flesh, typify this fish.
Its size is rather contained (it reaches a maximum length of one meter) and also the weight, which does not exceed 40 kg.
White tuna has meat with a low percentage of fat and produces very tasty eggs;
• yellowfin tuna,
which is a medium-quality variety identified by the yellow coloration of the fin tips.
This specimen, which is destined for the canning industry, has the same size and weight as the white one;
• striped tuna,
which is a fish particularly widespread in the Mediterranean Sea, and is perhaps the most fished in the world.
Used on a large scale for canned consumption, this animal is the least prized and also the most economical.
Its flesh is dark pink in color, with a tender texture and a generally bitter taste.
Its preferred habitat is represented by the Sicilian coasts, where, especially near the island of Lampedusa, rather small specimens are caught (maximum 4 kg);
• bluefin tuna,
which is the most sought-after and prized variety for its excellent organoleptic characteristics.
These specimens can reach a length of over 3 meters and a weight of 600 kg.
It is a fish found not only in the Mediterranean but also in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and is considered the one at greatest risk of extinction.
Its name derives from the intense red color of the flesh, particularly tasty and delicate at the same time.
To preserve this species, real farms called "tuna farms" have been established in the Mediterranean.
What are the characteristics of bluefin tuna
The bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), in addition to the dark red color of its flesh, is distinguished by its characteristic crescent-shaped tail and metallic gray back tending towards blue, which sometimes turns towards black.
The fins, on the other hand, are grayish except for the dorsal one which is darker.
This variety is among the most sought after on the international fish market and precisely for this reason it has become increasingly rare in recent years.
Once it could be considered the King of the Mediterranean because, thanks to its size, it acted as a voracious predator at the top of the food chain.
Following intense deep-sea fishing, this fish, which can reach 600 kilograms in weight, has begun to decrease in presence, also as a consequence of the progressive pollution of marine waters.
It is indeed very sensitive to variations in pH and salinity of the water, and has an extremely delicate reproductive cycle as it reaches sexual maturity only after the third year of age, when the tuna are about a meter long and weigh about 15 kg.
In the juvenile phase, they move in schools preferring calm and warm waters and undertaking long migrations to reach temperate areas where they can reproduce.
Gastronomic uses of bluefin tuna
On the market, large-sized specimens with fatter meat are predominantly sought after, considered ideal for raw preparations of sushi and sashimi, or for tartare, fillets, and carpaccio.
In Japan, over 2/3 of the world's catch of this specimen is consumed annually.
Until the 1950s, bluefin tuna was still easily available, while in the following decades it became increasingly rare, becoming a protected species, whose fishing is only authorized in certain periods.
Its cost, which depends on the color of the meat and the concentration of fatty substances, remains very high.
This species, heavily threatened by intensive fishing, is subject to strict protection measures to prevent its extinction.
The commercialization in thin slices, steaks, or in the form of canned fish is particularly appreciated by gourmets.
There are many benefits of bluefin tuna, rightly included in the Mediterranean diet as it contains valuable and beneficial nutrients for the body.
Thanks to the high concentration of omega-3, vitamins, and minerals, it helps prevent cardiovascular diseases, improve brain function, and regulate body weight.
This type of fish contains much more vitamin B and E compared to meat, dairy, and eggs.
The concentration of unsaturated fatty acids allows for monitoring of lipidemia and especially blood cholesterol concentration.
Its meat also contains few calories (144 per 100 grams of product), making it suitable for weight loss diets.
It is mostly fished when young, as these specimens are considered the most prized of all.
Red tuna in oil Taudì
The company Taudì, which has been producing hand-crafted preserves exclusively with quality raw materials for years, also offers customers a delicious red tuna preserve with extra virgin olive oil, made with natural ingredients without the addition of thickeners, preservatives, or chemical additives.
The product contains only premium cuts of red tuna caught during legally permitted periods, with a total fat concentration of 27 grams per 100 grams, a protein concentration of 25 grams per 100 grams, while carbohydrates are completely absent.
The benefits of this product, which are particularly useful for maintaining good cardiovascular health and the central nervous system, can be available all year round by using natural fish preserves that allow you to eat this food even during periods when fishing is not allowed.
The Taudì fish preserves are meticulously crafted thanks to manual processing and packaging without the addition of foreign substances.
Even the quality of the extra virgin olive oil with which the products are packaged meets the highest quality standards, allowing you to enjoy the fish preserves either simply on crostini or fresh bread, as a delicious dish, or as a condiment for pasta dishes.
