Kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis) is a saltwater species recorded in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia. It is found at depths of 0–200 m. The main season in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia runs spring.
Scientific name: Euthynnus affinis · Water: Saltwater · Season: Spring
Size: up to 100 cm
The kawakawa is a scombrid found in open water but always close to shore, and the young may enter bays and harbours. It forms mixed-species schools by size with other scombrids, ranging from 100 to more than 5,000 individuals. It is a highly opportunistic predator that feeds indiscriminately, mainly on small fishes, especially clupeoids and atherinids, and also on squid, crustaceans and zooplankton. It is taken in multispecies fisheries mainly by surface trolling and also with gill nets, and is generally marketed canned and frozen as well as dried, salted, smoked and fresh. Its range covers the warm waters of the Indo-West Pacific including oceanic islands and archipelagos, with a few strays in the eastern central Pacific, and it is highly migratory. In season in spring, it lives from the surface to about 200 m in water of about 18 to 29 degrees Celsius. It reaches about 100 cm fork length, commonly 60 cm, and up to about 14 kg, living about six years. It is a highly commercial species and a game fish, in the medium price band. IUCN lists it as least concern. Trophic level is 4.5, fishing vulnerability moderate at 36 of 100, climate vulnerability high to very high at 75, and resilience medium.
Caution: large individuals carry a ciguatera risk. Heat, cold and marinating do not remove the toxin, which concentrates in the liver, roe and head, so avoid eating those parts. Seek medical help if numbness, tingling or a reversed sense of hot and cold follows a meal.
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