The docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) contents and total mercury concentra-
tion were measured in whole tissue composites of all edible tissues of wild caught and farmed southern
bluefin tuna (
Thunnus maccoyii
, SBT) and each of the marketed tissue cuts (akami, chu-toro and o-toro) of
these fish. Rapid lipid accumulation during culture resulted in a net reduction in mercury concentration
of SBT composite tissues and an increase in the concentration of the dietary essential fatty acids. More-
over, the increased affinity of lipid for certain tissue cuts (o-toro) over that of others (e.g. akami), resulted
in cross carcass variation in the mercury concentration of fish muscular tissue. Results highlight the
potential for farming to be used as a tool to improve the flesh quality of fish species which could other-
wise provide limited dietary essential fatty acids to consumers and potentially contain elevated contam-
inant levels.