Tuna History and Tuna Facts

Only about one percent of tuna comes to the market to be sold fresh. The rest goes to the cannery, because canned tuna is America's most popular fish. If you haven't yet tried fresh tuna, you're missing one of the best meals to come from the ocean.

Tuna History

The word tuna dates back only to 1880 in print and is attributed as a Spanish American derivation of the English counterpart, tunny. It is derived from the Latin Thunnus, the name of its scientific genus. Tuna has been fished from the warm, temperate parts of the Mediterranean Sea and the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans since ancient times. As a member of the mackeral family, tuna naturally has a stronger, more robust flavor than whitefish.

Tuna Facts

Tuna can cruise up to 55 miles per hour, and they are constantly in motion. To keep this speed machine going, the tuna eats up to ten percent of its body weight daily. Depending on the variety, weights average from 10 pounds up to 600 pounds per fish. The majority of the commercial tuna harvest comes from California. The average consumption of tuna in America is 3.6 pounds per person, per year, most of which is canned.

More About Tuna and Tuna Recipes:

• Tuna Cooking Tips
• Tuna Varieties
• Tuna Selection and Storage
• Is there dolphin in canned tuna? FAQ
• Tuna and Health Issues
• Tuna History and Tuna Facts
• Tuna Recipes
_{Tuna Photo © 2007 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Cookbooks

•	The Essential Seafood Cookbook
•	Pike Place Public Market Seafood Cookbook
•	Fish: The Complete Guide to Buying and Cooking
•	Fish & Shellfish: The Definitive Cook's Companion
•	More Cookbooks