Clean Fish, easy peasy, right?! Pleasing Yehovah in this area of our life is not hard. Things that come from the water that have fins and scales are the only ones He considers “clean” or “tahor.”
Yehovah says that the things Israel eats which come from the waters must have fins and scales. It takes a lifetime to know Yehovah and become as holy as he is. We must not only learn and follow His ways, but also understand and adopt His attitudes. Why does the One who made everything think we eat things from the water that weren’t meant to be eaten?
To the “Christian Church” this is a picture. They think they are right with God and can do and eat whatever they want. Yehovah says they are smoke in His nostrils! Does that sound like something pleasing to Him?.
What Are Clean and Unclean Animals? We learned that eating swine (pig, hog, pork) and foods made from them (bacon, ham, lard, most sausage, and pepperoni) don’t follow or support Yehovah’s law on earth, so they are thought to be unclean [tamei] because they don’t chew their cud and have split hooves. Yehovah uses these two traits to tell the difference between animals that are clean [tahor] and do represent Him in the world and those that don’t.
About 200 people and I were served a white fish for dinner during Sukkot that turned out to be a catfish. Yehovah says this kind of fish is evil and should not be eaten. When I found out what we had eaten, I almost threw up right there at the table. I then had the worst night’s sleep of my time there because I kept thinking about all the other horrible food I might have been given. What I eat is important to me because I love God and want to be a good person in the world, even through what I eat. I will always choose not to eat or do something that He calls an abomination.
In Hebrew the word being translated as “abomination” is ש×קץ (sheh’-kets). Jeff Benner in His Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible says,.
If someone says they love the Elohim (the one who makes the rules and judges) of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, why would they ever want to do something that He says is ·¤¥ (sheh’-kets)?
Tuna is one of the most popular and commonly consumed fish worldwide This large, fast swimming fish commands a significant commercial fishing industry and features heavily in cuisines across the globe But despite its popularity at the dinner table, there remains a lot of mystery around the life and habits of tuna. A common question many people have is whether tuna is a scavenger fish.
As an avid fisherman and tuna enthusiast, I have done extensive research into the behavior and biology of these amazing fish. In this article, I will share everything you need to know to answer the question – is tuna a scavenger fish?
What Defines a Scavenger Fish?
Before examining tuna specifically, it is helpful to understand what defines a scavenger fish.
Scavenger fish survive by feeding on dead or decaying matter. They play an important ecological role by breaking down and removing organic waste and detritus from the oceans and waterways. This waste includes dead plants, fish, whales, and other animals.
True scavenger fish exhibit a range of adaptations and behaviors to facilitate their lifestyles. This includes having strong senses of smell to detect decaying matter from afar. Many also have sharp teeth or jaws modified for tearing flesh and strong digestive systems to break down rotting meat. Bottom dwelling fish like catfish and hagfish are common scavengers.
Tuna are Active Predators, Not Scavengers
Now that we understand the hallmarks of a scavenger fish, we can analyze the behavior and biology of tuna species. From this we can conclude that tuna are definitely not scavengers. Here’s a quick breakdown of the evidence:
-
Hunting behavior – Tuna do not wait for food to come to them. Instead they constantly swim and hunt down prey. Their streamlined, torpedo-shaped bodies allow them to cruise ocean waters endlessly in search of food.
-
Speed – Tuna are among the fastest swimming fish in the sea. They can hit speeds over 70 km/h during high speed predation and feedings. This gives them the speed required to actively chase down prey.
-
Diet – Tuna prey on live animals including fish, squid, crustaceans and other marine creatures. They do not have the teeth or digestive systems required to consume rotten flesh.
-
Water column – Unlike bottom dwelling scavengers, tuna spend most of their time hunting in the upper sunlit layers of the open ocean. This allows them to spot and pursue living prey.
The Predatory Feeding Habits of Tuna
As active hunters rather than scavengers, tuna have evolved a range of adaptations and behaviors to help them catch and consume live prey.
Vision – All tuna have excellent eyesight which helps them spot prey silhouetted against the light above. Some species like yellowfin and bigeye tuna also have specialized eye muscles that help them see better while diving into deeper, darker water.
Speed – As mentioned, tuna are remarkably fast swimmers, with streamlined bodies and tail fins shaped to provide maximum thrust. This allows them to chase down speedy prey.
Jaw – A tuna’s jaw is lined with pointed teeth shaped for grasping slippery prey. Their jaws also have remarkably fast snapping action for catching prey.
Schooling – Many tuna species hunt together in large schools. This “pack hunting” behavior helps corral prey and increases their chances of a successful hunt.
Endurance – Tuna never stop swimming and can migrate huge distances in search of prey. Their muscles have an abundant blood supply and store oxygen which fuels their tireless hunting.
The Diverse Feeding Habits of Different Tuna Species
There are over 15 species of tuna swimming in oceans globally. And while none are scavengers, they do have subtly different diets and feeding habits.
Skipjack – This smaller tuna feasts predominantly on fish and some squid. Their high speed helps them catch fast prey.
Albacore – Albacore are opportunistic predators that eat a wide variety of fish along with some crustaceans. They are not fussy!
Yellowfin – Yellowfins prey mostly on smaller tuna species, fish and squid. Their versatile speed and stamina allows them to exploit a diversity of prey.
Bigeye – These tuna dive deep to hunt, enjoying a diet of fish, squid and crustaceans. Their large eyes help spot prey in the ocean’s dim depths.
Bluefin – The largest tuna, bluefin hunt voraciously. An adult bluefin can feast on fish, squid, eels, and an array of other sea creatures. Their size allows them to consume larger prey.
As you can see, tuna feeding habits vary across species but all focus on active live prey hunting rather than passive scavenging. Understanding what different tuna species eat is key knowledge for any avid angler.
Are Any Tuna Scavengers?
Based on all the evidence, we can definitively say that tuna are not scavengers. As powerful, active predators, they play an entirely different ecological role to the detritivores and decomposers of the ocean world.
No tuna species have ever been observed consuming dead or decaying animals as a primary food source. At most, some tuna may occasionally opportunistically nibble on floating carrion. But their physiology and behavior is fundamentally adapted for high speed predation.
Clean Fish Must Haves Fins And Scales
The Creator says that aquatic animals that are good for food must have both fins and scales, just like the animals that live on land (the behemoths).
Fins And Scales Makes It Easy
Easy peasy, right?! Pleasing Yehovah in this area of our life is not rocket science. Like the four-legged beasts, the behemoth of the earth, the fish that Yehovah’s people are to eat should come from living things, not from the bottom of the sea, lakes, and rivers, where dead bodies and filth pile up. The garbage cans of the waters are primarily shell-fish and other fish that dwell at their bottoms.
Here is one list of fish that can be used to honor the Creator in the earth, and here is another list of fish that His people should not eat. Hope this helps you.
Is Canned Tuna Safe To Eat? Experts Weigh In On The Benefits Of Eating The Canned Fish | TIME
FAQ
Is tuna clean to eat?
What type of fish is tuna?
Is it true tuna can’t stop moving?
Are tuna carnivorous?
Are all fish scavengers?
Most fish are not scavengers, but there are a few species that will mainly feed on dead or dying animals. These scavenger fish include the hagfish, lampreys, remoras and a few shark species. As well as some bottom-dwelling fish like catfish, eels, and eelpouts that will also scavenge for food as their main food source.
What do tuna eat?
Most eat fish, while some species prefer to feast on cephalopods like squid. Tunas are fished extensively for food, and their speed and agility means that they are also prized by hunters as big game fish. As a result of overfishing, some species, notably bluefin tuna, have been threatened by extinction.
Are catfish scavengers?
Catfish are good examples of fish that are mostly freshwater scavengers. Scavenger fish are mostly carnivores but they may eat a wide variety of organisms, from plankton to plants and animals.
What do scavenger fish eat?
As scavengers, fish consume dead and decaying organic matter that would otherwise pollute the water or take ages to decompose. Scavenger fish, like catfish or lampreys, help to break down this organic matter much faster into simpler compounds that can be more rapidly be used by other organisms in the ecosystem. What Fish are Considered Scavengers?