Euthynnus affinis, commonly referred to as the mackerel tuna, little tuna, eastern little tuna, wavyback skipjack tuna, kawakawa, or tongkol komo, is a species of ray-finned bony fish within the Scombridae family, which encompasses the mackerels. It is classified under the tribe Thunnini, more commonly known as the tunas.
This species is marine and pelagic-neritic, characterized by oceanodromous migratory patterns, typically inhabiting depths ranging from 0 to 200 meters in tropical oceanic regions. Euthynnus affinis has a maximum length of 100 cm, with a common length of approximately 60 cm, and a recorded maximum weight of 14 kg. Notably, the species features a distinctive dorsal area marked by oblique dark bands.
Euthynnus affinis predominantly consumes small fish and squid, inhabiting open waters but consistently staying near coastal regions. Juvenile specimens may frequent bays and harbors. The species is known to form multi-species schools by size with other members of the Scombridae family, ranging from 100 to over 5,000 individuals. It is a highly opportunistic predator, feeding indiscriminately on small fish, particularly clupeoids and atherinids, as well as squid, crustaceans, and zooplankton.
In terms of fisheries, the species is primarily caught in multi-species operations employing surface trolling and gill nets. Euthynnus affinis is generally commercially available in canned and frozen forms, but is also processed as dried, salted, smoked, and fresh products.
Geographically, Euthynnus affinis is distributed across the Indo-Pacific region, extending from the 🌊 Red Sea to 🇵🇫 French Polynesia. It was historically referred to by the scientific name Euthynnus yaito.
Why it's threatened
Threat classification from the IUCN Red List.
