Endangered Species Act Status Review of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus)
May 20, 2011
The 2011 status review report conducted on a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) to list Atlantic bluefin tuna as endangered or threatened under the ESA and designate critical habitat for the species
This document provides a summary of the information gathered for an Endangered Species Act (ESA) status review for Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). On May 24, 2010, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) received a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), requesting that we list Atlantic bluefin tuna, an Atlantic bluefin tuna distinct population segment (DPS) consisting of one or more subpopulations in United States waters, or the entire species of Atlantic bluefin tuna as endangered or threatened under the ESA and designate critical habitat for the species. The petition contains information on the species, including the taxonomy; historical and current distribution; physical and biological characteristics of its habitat and ecosystem relationships; population status and trends; and factors contributing to the species’ decline. The Petitioners also included information regarding possible DPSs of Atlantic bluefin tuna. The petition addresses the five factors identified in section 4(a)(1) of the ESA as they pertain to Atlantic bluefin tuna: (A) current or threatened habitat destruction or modification or curtailment of habitat or range; (B) overutilization for commercial purposes; (C) disease or predation; (D) inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; and (E) other natural or man-made factors affecting the species’ continued existence.