Millennia of evolution and adaptation between Mediterranean human coastal populations and Atlantic bluefin tuna

For millennia, Mediterranean coastal communities have relied on tuna fishing as a primary source of sustenance, with evidence of this practice dating back 9000 years. Understanding the historical extent of human dependence on coastal resources is therefore essential for assessing long-term socio-economic development, human health, and the anthropogenic impact on the environment. Among the apex predators of the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) servs as both a keystone species and a vital resource for traditional sustenance. Its exploitation was historically related to small-scale subsistence fisheries conducted by coastal and islands communities and then to more complex systems, such as the traditional tuna traps, which activated the first commercial activities. This study aims to examine adaptive changes in ancient and contemporary Mediterranean bluefin tuna populations, as well as among past and present communities engaged in traditional tuna fishing practices. Our study shows: potential adaptive responses of tuna to prolonged human influence; possible differences in allele frequencies of pollutant-detoxification genes between populations with a historical reliance on fish consumption and those without such dietary traditions. Although tentative, this research will provide a comprehensive understanding of the long-term interactions between Atlantic bluefin tuna and human populations in the Mediterranean area.