Bonito

Bonito is a pelagic fish species widely distributed throughout the Warm waters of the Indo-West Pacific, including oceanic islands and archipelagos. Mostly eats small fishes, particularly clupeids and atherinids, but also squids, crustaceans, and zooplankton.

Euthynnus affinis, the mackerel tuna, kawakawa, little tuna, or tongkol is a species of ray-finned bony fish in the family Scombridae or mackerel family. It belongs to the tribe Thunnini, better known as the tunas. This is an Indo-Pacific species that is found from the Red Sea to French Polynesia.This species is medium-sized fish with a robust, elongate, and fusiform body; teeth small and conical, in a single series Colour of back dark blue with a complicated striped pattern which does not extend forward beyond the middle of first dorsal fin; lower sides and belly silvery white; several characteristic dark spots between pelvic and pectoral fins.Occurs in open waters but always remains close to the shoreline. The young may enter bays and harbors. Forms multi-species schools by size with other scombrid species comprising from 100 to over 5,000 individuals. A highly opportunistic predator feeding indiscriminately on small fishes, especially on clupeoids and atherinids; also on squids, crustaceans and zooplankton. Caught in multispecies fisheries, mainly by surface trolling; also with gill nets. Generally marketed canned and frozen; also utilized dried, salted, smoked, and fresh.

Auxis thazard is a species of tuna, in the family Scombridae, found around the world in tropical oceans. This species is a robust body, elongated and rounded. body naked except for the corselet, which is well developed and narrow in its posterior part a strong central keel on each side of caudal-fin base between 2 smaller keels. Colour of back bluish, turning to deep purple or almost black on the head; a pattern of 15 or more narrow, oblique to nearly horizontal, dark wavy lines in scaleless area above lateral line; belly white; pectoral and pelvic fins purple, inner sides black. Adults are epipelagic in neritic and oceanic waters. They feed on small fish, squids, planktonic crustaceans, and stomatopod larvae. Because of their abundance, they are considered an important element of the food web, particularly as forage for other species of commercial interest. They are preyed upon by larger fishes, including other tunas. Marketed fresh and frozen and also utilized dried or salted, smoked, and canned.

Bonito meat has a firm texture and a darkish color. The bonito has a moderate fat content. The meat of young or small bonito can be of a lighter color, close to that of Skipjack Tuna, and is used as a cheaper substitute for skipjack, especially for canning purposes. It is very popular in Asia, Africa, and East European markets.