Collection of Larval Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus Thynnus) Outside Documented Western Atlantic Spawning Grounds

Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus, 1758), are highly migratory and capable of traversing large distances throughout the North Atlantic Ocean. However, the majority of spawning activity has only been reported from the Mediterranean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. In early April 2009, low numbers of very small larval bluefin tuna were collected within and south of the Yucatán Channel, and along the western boundary of the Loop Current, northeast of Campeche Bank. In situ current velocity measurements showed that these larvae were collected in moderate to strong northward flow regimes, suggesting that they were spawned outside of the Gulf of Mexico. Here we describe the location and oceanographic environment of these larval bluefin tuna collections, and compare the 2009 data with some historical collections in the area.