CANBERRA, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- DNA testing has confirmed the first records of Pacific bluefin tuna caught by recreational fishers in Victoria, southeastern Australia, after two large fish caught off the state's coast in July were initially assumed to be southern bluefin tuna.
The fish were caught in Bass Strait, between the Australian mainland and the island state of Tasmania, off Western Port Bay, weighing about 165 kg and 131.6 kg, respectively, according to a statement released Wednesday by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Australia's national science agency.
Fishers noticed unusual features on the fish and arranged for muscle samples to be collected for genetic testing. DNA screening at CSIRO laboratories in Hobart, the state capital of Tasmania, followed by further sequencing analysis, confirmed both fish were Pacific bluefin tuna.
Among the world's largest and most powerful tuna species, Pacific bluefin tuna are more commonly found in the Northern Hemisphere but are also caught in New Zealand waters. They can grow to nearly three meters in length and weigh close to 450 kg.
Months later, anglers caught large numbers of tuna weighing between 130 and 217 kg off Lakes Entrance, on Victoria's eastern coast. Preliminary assessments suggest they may also be Pacific bluefin tuna, with genetic testing underway.
The discovery suggests the species may occur in southern Australian waters more regularly than previously recognized, according to the CSIRO statement. ■
