Radiation from Japan's nuclear disaster may help track Pacific bluefin tuna

Mercury News ^ | 3/19/13 | Ryder Diaz

[NormsRevenge]

A nuclear disaster may lead to insights into the mysterious migrations of Pacific bluefin tuna, a fish species that recently has suffered a dramatic decline.

Scientists report in a new study that they can use trace amounts of radiation in bluefin tuna to sketch the crisscrossing passage of the fish through the world's largest ocean. Understanding how many fish move back and forth may help with the conservation of bluefin tuna.

During the Fukushima nuclear disaster, two years ago, radioactive particles flooded into the Pacific Ocean. Bluefin tuna swimming through these waters began to store certain radioisotopes, called cesium 134 and cesium 137, in their muscle tissue.

The low levels of these particles don't pose a health danger to either the fish or sushi eaters, said Daniel Madigan, a Stanford University graduate student and an author on the study in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. But scientists can track the chemical mark of Fukushima to recreate a timeline of when bluefin tuna traveled from their spawning grounds, in waters around Japan, to the coast of North America.

[NormsRevenge]

Your sushi is safe.. for now. Bon appetit.

[bunkerhill7]

I like my tunafish sandwich cold, not hot.

[doc1019]

Radiation from Japan's nuclear disaster may help track Pacific bluefin tuna

Just follow the glowing three headed fish.

[Jack Hammer]

It may be safe, but why does it glow in the dark?

[DesertRhino]

Hot Tuna used to really jam though.

[DesertRhino]

Radioactive Tuna might be a good band name though.

[Egon]

Just follow the glowing three headed fish.

[doc1019]

LOL! Thanks.

[deadrock]

I never could tuna a piano.

[dfwgator]

[eldoradude]

A nuclear disaster may lead to insights into the mysterious migrations of Pacific bluefin tuna

Rename that 'Fukushima Glowfin Tuna' and serve it in raw in the dark.

Random weird thought - if I fed the dog enough glowfin tuna would the end result also glow? Make it easier to avoid stepping in it...

[deadrock]

That’s the one.

[kevao]

That is such an old reference, man. You gotta roll with the changes.

[Bratch]

[Right Wing Assault]

I guess you might as well make the best of the situation.

They could make everyone more radioactive and Homeland could track us more easily.

[Georgia Girl 2]

So really Fukashima was a good thing. OK now I see. :-)

[tumblindice]

Shine little bluefin: glimmer, glimmer

[KarlInOhio]

Well, since the tuna is about the size of a Nimitz carrier it should be pretty darn easy to track.

Giant lizard, giant moth, giant flying turtle, giant pteranodon. Now giant tuna fish.