ABSTRACT
Atlantic bluefin tuna share many biological characteristics with southern and Pacific bluefin tunas that have made them the focus of numerous scientific studies over the years: including large body size, hydrodynamic efficiency, endothermy, ocean basin scale migrations, and the ability to exploit a wide range of temperatures and habitats (e.g., Carey and Teal 1966; Mather et al. 1995; Block and Stevens 2001; Fromentin and Powers 2005). Their high economic value and poor stock status in recent years have added substantial impetus to bluefin tuna research. In this chapter, we review the biology of Atlantic bluefin tuna with particular emphasis on their movement and habitat use patterns. The terms ‘bluefin’ or ‘bluefin tuna’ are used for Atlantic bluefin tuna unless otherwise specified.
