Tuna: Best fish to eat

'Tuna' is quite a well known fish in many parts of the world. The innocuous name might trick you into thinking it is a tiny fish, but oh no! Some species of tuna such as the Atlantic Bluefin can grow up to 4.6 meters in length, longer than an average male human. Their average weight is a whooping 648 kilograms. There are smaller species, like the Bullet tuna which grows up to 50 cm and weighs up to 1.8 kilograms. All in all, there are 15 species of tuna.

Tuna is a saltwater fish, mostly found in warm seas. Aside from salmon, tuna is perhaps the most commercially sought-after fish, due to its distinctive taste and flavor. They happen to be a subgroup of Mackerel fishes. Looking at a whole tuna, you might notice their sleek, streamlined body, which optimizes their speed. The swimming speed of a tuna is no laughing matter, as the yellowfin tuna can swim up to 75 kilometers per hour. They are also adapted to make long journeys through the ocean. Another remarkable fact about tuna is their lifespan, which can extend to as much as 50 years. 

As tuna is mostly known as a food, it may be prudent to notice the unique properties of tuna flesh. Tuna is extensively used in asian cuisine, as well as in Europe and Australia. Most fish have white flesh, but not tuna. It has pink to dark red flesh which makes it look more like meat. The unique color and flavour is what makes fresh, raw tuna an important component in making the popular japanese dish 'sushi'. Fresh tuna is also popular in making steak. In western countries, canned tuna is used as a sandwich filler and an ingredient in salads and casseroles.    

Due to the demand in sushi, Japan happens to be the biggest tuna consuming nation. They are hunted so thoroughly that they have earned endangered status lately. To keep up with the ever increasing demand, some species of tuna has been subjected to farming. These fish are reared in net pens and fed bait fish.

Besides edible purposes, many species of tuna are caught as game, either for recreational purposes or as part of a contest. In these contests, capture of large tuna is encouraged. This sometimes cause injury to the contestants and damage to their fishing equipment as larger tuna tend to put up quite a bit of a fight.  

Canned tuna was first produced in Australia in 1903. The commodity quickly became popular. Tuna is usually canned in edible oils, in brine, in water, and in various sauces. All this allows for differences in texture, flavour and taste. Canned tuna is also jokingly called 'Chicken Of The Sea'.  Depending upon the color of the flesh of the tuna species, the can is marked as "light" or "white" meat, with "light" meaning a greyish pink color and "white" meaning a light pink color.

Tuna fish is a powerhouse of essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, magnesium, iron, vitamin A, B6 and B12, and as such is quite beneficial for health.
1. due to the presence of omega-3 fatty acids, tuna is great to maintain heart health. 
2. Tuna is also rich in potassium, which works to keep blood pressure in control.
3. Tuna is rich in manganese, zinc, vitamin C and selenium, which help in strengthening the immune system. Consequently they lower the risk of cancer.
4. Tuna is low in fat content and rich in proteins and nutrients, and as such it is the ideal food to keep body weight in check.
5. Tuna contains Vitamin B which is a major component in strengthening bones. This vitamin makes the bones stronger and protects them from injuries like fracture.
6. Tuna contains a special component called elastin which helps to keep skin youthful and radiant. Adding tuna to daily diet might provide this benefit.      

Despite its rich taste and various health benefits, one must be cautious about ingesting this fish, as it is known to contain high levels of mercury. As tuna is high on the food chain, mercury from the marine ecosystem tends to accumulate in its body. Most of the mercury is found in lipids (fat) stored in tuna. Consequently, the more fatty tuna is, the more its mercury content. However, the same cannot be said about tuna raised in captivity. They tend to have less amounts of mercury in their flesh, regardless of the amount of fat they store.In March 2004, the United States FDA issued guidelines recommending pregnant women, nursing mothers and children to be cautious about their tuna intake. For people with body weight less than 110 pounds they recommended one can (6 ounce) of tuna, weekly. For those weighing more, the limit might be two cans per week.    

Now a days, in Bangladesh Tuna becoming so famous. The government is set to issue more licenses to get fish and pelagic fishes past the 200-meter profundity of the Bay of Bengal and in the Indian Ocean said authorities at the fisheries and domesticated animals service. 

Starting at now, a sum of 16 firms have connected to the Department of Fisheries (DoF) for authorization. 

The nation is yet to present longline angling, a business angling strategy, to get fish and other fish species in the profound marine water.

Neighboring nations, for example, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and India are utilizing longline angling and are acquiring an attractive sum from sending out the gets. At present, a few types of fish are found as by-catch of mechanical, motorized and non-automated trawlers. In amount, fish included around 2 percent of the mechanical catch in financial 2015-16, as indicated by the DoF. 

The legislature made the move to investigate ocean assets as Bangladesh got the privilege to angle in 118,813 square kilometers zone of the ocean and trawl up to 200 nautical miles into the Bay of Bengal after a decision from a universal council in 2014. 

The nation likewise found a way to turn into an individual from the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission to investigate fish at the outward limit of its 200 nautical miles.

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