Official Awareness Publication · Established 2024

Tuna's a fish.
It's a yummy dish.

This has been confirmed. You may proceed accordingly.

100%
Verified Fish
0
Legs. Zero legs.
1
Classification
Yummy
Dish Status
Review The Evidence Common Questions
TUNA IS A FISH   ·   THIS IS NOT IN DISPUTE   ·   TUNA'S A FISH   ·   IT'S A YUMMY DISH   ·   TUNA IS A FISH   ·   IT LIVES IN THE OCEAN   ·   THE OCEAN HAS WATER   ·   TUNA IS AWARE OF THIS   ·   TUNA IS A FISH   ·   IT'S A YUMMY DISH   ·   YOU ALREADY KNEW THIS   ·   WE ARE SIMPLY CONFIRMING IT   ·  
Official Classification

The Verification Has Been Completed.

The Bureau of Fish Classification undertook a thorough, multi-year assessment of tuna. The question before the Bureau was straightforward. The answer was also straightforward. The process was not particularly long.

Tuna is a fish. It has been a fish for approximately 35 million years, which predates the Bureau's founding by a considerable margin. The Bureau is comfortable confirming findings that precede it.

Tuna is also, by all available accounts, a yummy dish. Consumer testimony on this point has been consistent across cultures, centuries, and preparation methods. The Bureau does not typically weigh in on taste, but in this case the consensus was difficult to ignore.

No further verification is anticipated at this time. Should the status of tuna change, the Bureau will issue an updated report. We do not expect this to happen.

Classification Checklist
✓
Lives in water Specifically saltwater. The ocean. Not a river. Not a lake. Not your bathtub.
✓
Has fins Multiple. Dorsal, pectoral, tail. All present. All accounted for.
✓
Breathes through gills Does not breathe through a mouth. Does not breathe through lungs. Gills.
✓
Zero legs This criterion was checked twice. The result was the same both times.
✓
Yummy dish Confirmed via independent panel. Panel enjoyed it. Panel asked for more.
By The Numbers

What We Know About Tuna.

25g
Protein Per Can
A single can of tuna contains approximately 25 grams of protein. The can itself contains zero. This distinction matters and we want to be clear about it.
70+
Species Confirmed
There are over 70 recognized species of tuna. All of them are fish. The Bureau has not found a single exception. We have looked.
45 mph
Top Speed
Tuna swim at up to 45 miles per hour. This is faster than you. This is faster than most things. Tuna do not think about this.
35M
Years as a Fish
Tuna have been fish for approximately 35 million years. Their classification was not contingent on Bureau approval. We simply agree with the existing evidence.
#1
Canned Seafood, USA
Tuna is the most consumed canned seafood in the United States. Americans have reached this conclusion independently of the Bureau. We consider this validating.
0
Open Questions
The Bureau has resolved all outstanding questions regarding tuna's classification. There are no open items. The file is closed. Tuna is a fish. This is the file.
Public Commentary

What People Are Saying.

"I had suspected tuna was a fish for some time. The Bureau's report confirmed this. I felt relief, but also a certain flatness, like the confirmation of something you already knew. I am eating tuna now. It is good."

D.M., Chicago
Verified Tuna Consumer

"My daughter asked me if tuna was a fish. I told her to wait while I consulted the Bureau. The Bureau confirmed it was. My daughter had moved on by the time I returned. She was eating a sandwich. It had tuna in it."

R.T., Austin
Parent / Household Decision Maker

"I submitted a tip to the Bureau about a fish I was unsure about. They said it was not tuna. They said it was a halibut. I thanked them. They did not respond. I ate the halibut anyway. It was also yummy."

M.T., Seattle
Tip Line Correspondent, 2024
Frequently Asked Questions

Common Points of Inquiry.

Is tuna a fish?
Yes. This is the primary finding of the Bureau and the foundational premise of this website. Tuna is a fish. It has always been a fish. The Bureau did not make it a fish. The Bureau confirmed it was one.
Is tuna a yummy dish?
The Bureau's classification mandate does not technically extend to culinary assessments. However, the panel convened to review this question unanimously agreed that tuna is, in fact, a yummy dish. One panelist described it as "very yummy." That person has been asked not to return.
Could tuna ever stop being a fish?
The Bureau has considered this question. The answer is no. Tuna's fish status is not provisional or contingent on ongoing review. It is settled. Should tuna develop legs, lungs, or a preference for living on land, the Bureau would reconvene. The Bureau does not anticipate reconvening.
What is a fish?
A fish is an aquatic animal with fins, gills, and a vertebral column. Tuna has all three. This is not an exhaustive definition. The Bureau is not a dictionary. We classify fish. We do not define them. That is a different bureau.
I saw a tuna on land. What should I do?
Please report this through the tip line below. Include the location, time of observation, and a brief description of whether the tuna appeared comfortable. The Bureau will investigate. Do not approach the tuna. Do not ask the tuna any questions. The tuna will not answer.
What is the Bureau of Fish Classification?
The Bureau of Fish Classification is an awareness organization dedicated to the accurate and timely classification of fish. We are independent, non-partisan, and fully funded by sources we are not required to disclose at this time. Our findings are final. Our report on tuna is closed. We are working on other fish.
I ate tuna and now I feel something. Is this normal?
Satisfaction after eating tuna is consistent with our findings that tuna is a yummy dish. If what you felt was not satisfaction, the Bureau recommends consulting a physician. The Bureau is not a physician. We classify fish. We are very good at it.
Classification Services

Report a Fish.

If you have encountered a fish and require classification, the Bureau is here. If you believe you have encountered something that is not a fish but behaves as one, the Bureau is also here. Submit your report below. All tips are reviewed.

All reports reviewed within 3–5 business days. Bureau findings are final. Tuna reports will be marked resolved immediately as tuna's classification is not in question.